Charges Added to Electric Bills

It was a pleasure to read Robert A. Jones’ objective essay, “Presenting the Bill for a Free Market” (June 14). The people of California need to be informed, not cajoled, so they can vote intelligently in the November election. For the Big Three utilities, it has been a win-win scenario. They can be debt-free, with no risk. The large corporations are benefiting because, with their large loads, they can negotiate lower energy rates. The residential users have no leverage with which to negotiate.

A point of clarification: The Department of Water and Power has a choice in 2002. DWP can either participate or not participate in the California energy deregulation. It is not mandated to become part of the ISO/PX (Independent System Operation/Power Exchange). Large companies have been pressuring the City Council and the department’s general manager; they want the department to join. The residential customers of the department already have lower energy rates than their Edison neighbors. If they don’t want to pay Competitive Transition Charge and Trust Transfer Amount charges, they should so state to their City Council representatives and to the DWP.

WAYNE BLOCK

Diamond Bar

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Thank you for writing this meaningful description of utility companies’ efforts to zap us ratepayers with this unfair increase. As a volunteer in my own neighborhood I collected 400 signatures to help get the Rate Reduction and Reform Act on the ballot. This was easy; all I had to do is show my neighbors a copy of our electric bill and point out the CTC you wrote about.

STAN SALTER

Anaheim