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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2001)
California copes with energy crisis By Jennifer Coleman The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Assembly took several steps Thursday to cope with California’s energy crisis, passing bills that would regulate power plant out ages and expand utility programs that cut rates for big power users who turn off electricity when needed. A measure by Assemblywoman Carole Migden would give the overseer of the state power grid au thority to coordinate plant outages to prevent too many from going of fline for maintenance at any one time. If a power plant seemed to have too many outages or was shut down for a suspicious length of time, the grid keeper, the Indepen dent System Operator, could in vestigate and the state Electricity Oversight Board could order fines. “We have suspected that in some instances these generators have shut down and this has not been in the public interest,” said Migden, D-San Francisco, adding that she was not accusing anyone of wrongdoing. “What we’re trying to do is create an audit and ac countability system.” The bill largely puts into state law an executive order issued last month by Gov. Gray Davis and goes further by giving the Electrici ty Oversight Board the power to is sue fines. The fines would be based on the cost of power the ISO had to buy as a result of a plant’s shutdown. Senate leader John Burton on Wednesday announced a Senate committee will investigate whether electricity wholesalers il legally withheld power to drive up prices. He cited plant outages for sched uled and unscheduled mainte nance that have contributed to the state’s strapped power supply and forced the ISO to scramble for power at premium prices to fill gaps in the grid. Duke, Dynegy, Mirant and Re liant will be among major providers included in the Senate inquiry, said Committee Chairman Joe Dunn. Jan Smutny-Jones, executive di rector of the Independent Energy Producers industry group, said wholesalers will cooperate, but warned that if it becomes a “witch hunt’’ it could discourage them from building plants in California. A similar Assembly panel has been formed to look into natural gas prices. The probes could lead to action by the state attorney gen eral. The Federal Regulatory Energy Commission on Wednesday or dered Williams Energy Marketing & Trading and AES Southland to show why they should not be forced to refund S10.8 million to California utilities for taking gener ating units in Long Beach and Huntington Beach offline last April and May. That follows a FERC order last week directing wholesalers to give back $69 million in overcharges for California electricity. FERC, a strong supporter of deregulation, has given the companies until March 23 to appeal that decision. The Assembly approved Migden’s plant outage bill 57-5 and sent it to the Senate. The Assembly also sent the Sen ate two measures on investor owned utilities’ interruptible-serv ice programs, which give non-residential utility customers discounted rates if they agree to shut down during periods of tight power supplies. Both votes were 67-0. The programs are considered key tools for avoiding rolling blackouts this summer, when air conditioning and other power use is expected to further strap the state’s electricity supply. The Assembly approved a bill by Assemblyman Rod Wright, D Los Angeles, that would extend the programs until the end of 2002 and require investor-owned utili ties to offer customers more ways to participate. It also passed a measure by As semblywoman Lynn Daucher, R Brea, that would let those in such programs for at least a year that have been barred by the state Pub lic Utilities Commission from get ting out of them opt out without penalty. Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. cus tomers found themselves shut down frequently in January. Sever al schools and businesses asked to be let out of the programs, saying they couldn’t function due to the frequent outages. The PUC on Thursday was ex pected to discuss a new plan for interruptible-service programs. Meanwhile, federal regulators said they will make several changes in oversight to expand the West’s power supply. The state has been struggling with a tight electricity supply since summer due in part to high natural gas prices and power plant outages for scheduled and un planned maintenance. California remained free from power alerts Thursday morning, with reserves above 7 percent. Don’t Get Trapped In A Smalj Apartment • Free Month Rent • 1 & 2 Bedrooms • Quiet & Large • Gas Fireplace • Air Conditioning • Laundry Hookups • Free Cable • Balcony/Deck Now Taking Reservation Deposits for Fall! A O E IKTIIS UMUHnitfK I PRESENTS Limited Student Tixl! LTD Station across the street11i CnimEL HEIIEN Book & Lyrics by Dorothy Velasco Music by Karl Mansfield Directed by Reva Kaufman [There was a time when cowgirls rode bulls & wild broncs and competed with men in the leading rodeos. This World Premiere Musical is the lively, colorful story of those amazing daredevils! 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