Electric Power Deregulation

Re “Agency Reports Cost of Deregulation High,” Aug. 3: First, let’s dispel the myth that deregulation of California’s electrical utilities was driven by consumers seeking lower utility bills. Consumers unwittingly supported deregulation, but it was driven by investors and special interests who wanted a piece of the pie.

At least the public utilities had a long-term view of providing power and generation capacity. The newcomers were simply applying the principle of maximizing short-term return on their investments. Once you understand that principle (the same force behind HMOs and the coming privatization of Social Security) you can understand why rates have gone up and brownouts are around the corner.

STU O’GUINN

Huntington Beach

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California is in a stew of its own making with inadequate electricity supplies (“State Gives Aid Against Soaring Electricity Bills,” Aug. 2). For more than the past two decades we have decided to let other states build the power plants needed to provide California electricity. Now, with deregulation, they can hold us hostage to “market prices.”

If we had built the large, base-load nuclear plants needed to meet the increasing electrical demands of our growing economy we would have had less air pollution and adequate power at a reasonable cost. Now, in the throes of one power crisis after another, it seems we will do the really dumb thing of building gas-fired plants--generating pollution and remaining vulnerable to soaring gas prices--while we continue to buy electrical power from the interstate scalpers at inflated prices.

JAMES E. OWENS

La Canada

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It’s almost 100 degrees outside. I am sitting in a local coffee bar next to a real gas-burning fireplace admiring the beautiful flames performing a magical dance in the cool breeze blown from the air-conditioning vent. As I am sipping my favorite blended drink I am reading your headline about “power gridlock.” Hmm?! I am wondering where can we possibly cut back on our electric use.

I hope you are not going to suggest turning the fireplace off so the air-conditioning doesn’t have to blow all the time. That would totally ruin the ambience. Only in Southern California!

HAMID BAHADORI

Mission Viejo