CalEnergy Files New Suit Against SoCal Edison

Edison International’s Southern California Edison utility faces a new lawsuit from CalEnergy Operating Corp. that seeks $6 million in payments for power deliveries.

CalEnergy’s suit against California’s second-largest utility is being filed about a week after the geothermal power producer agreed to drop a separate $100-million lawsuit over debts for energy purchased from November 2000 until March 2001. In February, CalEnergy filed a suit to win release from its Edison contract so it could sell on the open market.

Southern California Edison and state regulators in early October reached an agreement to use consumer rates to pay $3.3 billion in company debt, averting a bankruptcy. CalEnergy said the California Public Utilities Commission agreement signals Southern California Edison is capable of paying its bills.

The latest lawsuit, filed in Imperial County Superior Court, seeks to force Southern California Edison to hand over bonus payments owed to CalEnergy when the generator meets certain production requirements. CalEnergy claims it is owed $6 million for October and also wants a judge to order the utility to continue the payments in the future.

Shares of Rosemead-based Edison rose 21 cents to $15.47 on the NYSE.