Davis Responsible for Inaction on Power

* It is incredible to read a Times article about the electrical power crisis in which Gov. Gray Davis is the only official faring well in public opinion polls (“Residents Favor Building More Power Plants,” Times Poll, Feb. 18). Either people don’t follow the details of the issues or the media do a poor job of giving the full story, or both.

Davis was confronted on more than one occasion over the last two years with the imminent power crisis. That includes a request by the Republicans in the Legislature to meet with him last summer to urgently address the coming electrical problems. In each case he refused to even discuss the matter and stuck his head in the sand. He, more than anyone else, is responsible for inaction leading us to our current crisis.

Now our state government is leading us toward a monumental takeover of the electrical utilities and sure disaster. And Davis is faring well in the polls. I guess as long he tells us he is doing a great job that is what we will believe.

MIKE SWANSON

Chatsworth

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Can you explain whether or not I have to pay my PG&E; bill, and if so, why? The state of California is now buying the electricity being used here. PG&E; is not paying its vendors. Will this state’s taxpayers end up paying for their power twice? Why aren’t our checks going to a state energy fund?

GREGG K. KNOWLES

Bakersfield

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California’s “energy crisis” is proof positive that incremental reforms do not work. The Legislature tried to deregulate the electricity wholesale market and keep the prices regulated at the retail level. The purists in the Libertarian Party are right when it comes to deregulation. We have to do it all at once or things go horribly wrong.

CHRISTOPHER GANIERE

Costa Mesa

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Last week, we drove from Orange County to Palm Springs on business, and we were shocked to see that many of the windmills in the San Gorgonio Pass were still; since there was a brisk wind and a few were turning, we could only assume that they were turned off. What possible justification can there be for this, at a time when every bit of energy is needed?

BARBARA and KEN TYE

Orange