Excess Energy

* I am installing my 10-kwh solar roof panels. Edison requires me to sign a contract for a two-way meter. I found it interesting that any excess energy I generate in a year will be canceled for the next year in order to “discourage customers from generating excess energy.” Wait a minute: I thought we had a problem with not enough electricity in California--and they want to be sure I don’t generate any more than I use. Other states require utilities to buy excess energy generated from roof solar panels. Get with it, California.

RON GRANT

South Pasadena

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We drove from Reno to Los Angeles the other night and couldn’t help but notice how many hundreds of billboards had all their lights on in the middle of the night. I just can’t imagine how your Gov. Gray Davis would let so many billboards have a priority over people for such resources.

JAMES KADOKAN

Reno, Nev.

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Re “Senate OKs Forming State Power Agency,” Feb. 21: Over the past 20 years, I have worked as an energy conservation engineer in every state. California is dead last in conservation. The reason for our problems has nothing to do with government; it’s because Californians take no action in terms of upgrading existing facilities. Just take a look around you; look at the schoolchildren in trailers. Stop pointing fingers unless you’re looking in the mirror. Hopefully, energy prices will continue to rise, forcing Californians to rethink their ways.

Before building new power plants so we can have cheaper power, think about this: More power used at lower costs is the same as less power used at higher costs. Except that in the latter, facilities are modernized.

ARON WEIS

Redondo Beach