Power Crisis: Who Will Pay?

* Re “Experts Doubtful About Rush to Build Small Power Plants,” April 15: We don’t need 5,000 more megawatts this summer, we need to use 5,000 less. San Diego allowed rate increases last summer and cut usage by 16%. The rest of the state will begin to conserve when utility bills send the message to use less energy.

Whether we like it or not, Californians unwittingly made the decision to accept higher prices rather than build power plants. We made this bargain and now we have to pay for it.

TOM ECKER

Los Angeles

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Re “Davis Says All Power Costs to Be Recovered,” April 14:

Were your editors and reporters asleep when Gov. Gray Davis was telling them that it will be the ratepayers and not taxpayers who will shoulder the cost of the state’s energy crisis? Except for customers of municipal electric companies, call them ratepayers or taxpayers, they are the same people.

Using the governor’s logic, I’m sure he will soon be telling car owners not to be concerned that gasoline now costs more than $1.75 a gallon. It will only be car drivers who will have to pay the higher fuel cost.

WALTER BAILEY

Encino

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If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission refuses to rein in the predatory suppliers and wholesalers of electricity (“Price Caps Excluded in FERC Plan,” April 12), could somebody please explain to me what this commission pretends to “regulate”? Maybe, to cut the federal budget, President Bush should just abolish the commission, which clearly refuses to do its job.

ALLAN E. IRISH

Glendora

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Re “Energy Cost Study Critical of Public Agencies Too,” April 11:

I find it most interesting that Los Angeles’ own DWP has been “overcharging” the California investor-owned utilities during times of electricity shortage and that a major portion of the DWP’s power comes from a nuclear power plant in Arizona. Forget about those greedy Texans. Let’s talk about hypocrisy; the greed starts with public-owned utilities in this state.

STEPHEN HASELTON

Hesperia