Juneau Forced To Cut Energy Use

(Reuters) Residents of Juneau, Alaska's capital city, have been forced to cut energy use since a series of avalanches wiped out transmission towers and electrical lines, cutting off all power from the area's hydroelectric system.

The extensive damage has forced Juneau to rely on costly electricity from backup generators fueled by diesel, which is at all-time high prices. Electricity from the generators cost nearly five times as much as power from the hydroelectric dam.

Avalanches rumbled down the mountainsides two weeks ago at the Snettisham hydroelectric dam about 25 miles (40 kilometres) southeast of Juneau, a city of about 30,000.

Alaska Electric Light and Power Co, the local utility, said the area is expected to rely on the backup diesel generators for three months because it is not safe for workers to go fix the damage.

Unlike other parts of the energy-rich state, Juneau has no source of natural gas and relies almost exclusively on the area's hydroelectric system for most of its power.

Without drastic reductions in energy use, a typical Juneau family could be facing electric bills of over $1,000 a month for the next three months, said Tim McLeod, president of the Alaska Electric Light and Power Co.

Low-income Juneau residents and several businesses that struggle through the tourism off-season might be crippled by skyrocketing electricity bills, said House Minority Leader Beth Kerttula.

Juneau city leaders and the city's legislators are seeking state and national disaster declarations that would pave the way for assistance to the needy, said Kerttula. (