State’s Power Crisis

* Desperate times call for desperate measures. Gov. Gray Davis has one legal option for a solution to the current crisis in California’s deregulated energy market. He can lawfully invoke Sections 1401-1421 of the state Public Utilities Code (eminent domain) and physically seize all power generation plants in the state currently owned by interests based outside of California.

All of the power-generating plants in California that were sold by Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric to outside interests, as stipulated in 1996 by AB 1890, would then be held and operated by the state pending final disposition and economic restitution to the most recent owners at fair market value. This lawful intervention by the state on behalf of and in the best interests of the residents of California would quickly resolve our problematic energy market situation. Go for it, Gov. Davis!

ARMEN A. SAGINIAN

Los Angeles

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Exactly how did it become that California lost control of energy costs? Deregulation? Is that the easy answer?

I’ve lived in Southern California all my life (53 years), and energy costs have been pretty stable during that time. Am I to believe that the suppliers were losing money all those years? I think not.

And now with deregulation we are subjected to vastly higher rates, for what reason? Because outside providers now see California as a lucrative source of recently deregulated users? I think so.

How did California get to the point where we are, individually, open fodder for profit-grabbing out-of-state energy producers?

Something smells here. Competition usually breeds competition. In this case it seems to have bred collusion and conspiracy.

ALAN SANDOVAL

Costa Mesa

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If there is enough danger that the electric companies will impose blackouts on us, will we be less likely to complain of higher costs for the utility? Isn’t there a legal term for this? Such as “blackmail”?

VIRGINIA HARFORD

Grand Terrace