Forgotten Exercise of Economizing

Re “Blackout Forecasts’ Dark Side,” June 20:

With all the attention paid to our electricity “crisis,” why hasn’t our very own city caught on? Are the lights of City Hall through the night necessary? Are the lighted pillars at LAX, recently erected, necessary?

With our recent elections and the spotlight not only on public figures poised to lead this city, but on private enterprise (the largess of our “dutiful” corporations), who is leading the example in the strange, forgotten exercise of “economy” of our businesses, lives and resources?

Living downtown, the drive home at night is to the beacon of L.A, a good number of its downtown buildings lighted from head to toe, many of which remain on through the night and into the morning.

What will it take before we wake up to the thought that a bit of thrift and efficiency on our parts might ease the burden of our energy crisis?

Rolando Hidalgo

Los Angeles

Re “State to Pay Electric Bill With Loan, Not Taxes,” June 20: What is the difference? If the state makes a loan, don’t the taxpayers make the payments?

Gale Michaels

Arcadia

Re “Regulators OK Price Limits on Power in West,” June 19: Gee, what a surprise; another Bush flip-flop. President Bush’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has voted to place price restraints on electricity sold in the West, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Why didn’t they do this sooner?

The sudden flip-flop may be explained by a comment from Nora Brownell, a Bush FERC appointee, who said, “The blame game should end today.” So that’s the reason for Bush’s sudden metamorphosis on this issue: damage control! Bush found himself walking a political plank created by his association with corporate criminals in the energy industry, and it made some Republicans nervous. These less-than-noble Republicans demanded FERC action only because they’re worried about the 2002 election and fear that western Republican governors could be politically harmed.

I guess we should feel relieved that Bush’s punitive plan to wreck California’s economy may have to be put on hold just long enough to save the jobs of some western Republicans. How magnanimous.

Scott L. Phillips

Norwalk

George W. Bush: Read my lips. No price controls on electricity in California.

Harold Gordon

Los Angeles

Re “Regulators OK Price Limits on Power in West” and “L.A. Home Prices Still on the Rise,” June 19: Perhaps the consumer advocates who so vehemently argued for price caps on electricity now should focus on trying to limit housing prices. Just think of all the home sellers who are “price gouging” buyers, earning much more than a reasonable return on their investment in their houses. Isn’t affordable housing almost as important as affordable electricity?

Gerry Swider

Sherman Oaks