UTILITIES

PUC Regulator Wants to Open Electric Market by July 1997: The next president of the California Public Utilities Commission says he wants to begin opening the state’s electric markets to competition by July 1997, six months sooner than current plans. P. Gregory Conlon, who will take over the commission presidency from Daniel Fessler next month, said he has been “talking to staff about July 1997” as a start date. Most California companies are required to buy power from one of the state’s three electric utilities: San Francisco-based Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Rosemead-based Southern California Edison or San Diego-based San Diego Gas & Electric. Conlon said political pressure is building to accelerate deregulation of the state’s $20-billion electric industry.