Power Blackouts

As always, Big Brother takes good care of us. He knows we lack the self-discipline to voluntarily cut back on our use of electricity so he does it for us with rolling blackouts (March 20). In the process, his benevolent acts reduce our electric bill from what it would have been without “managed” conservation. Our friends and business competitors in the rest of the country should be so fortunate. They can learn a lot from the “power-ful” California!

WALLY ROBERTS

Granada

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I am disgusted by the state-sponsored media blitz urging conservation. Why should California residents have to manage with less electricity? There should be plenty to go around. The geniuses who run California have not been building enough power plants to keep up with demand. Why should I be asked to turn off my hair dryer for them, or use it at “non-peak” hours?

In my opinion, conservation is the worst thing consumers can do, because it lets the politicians off the hook for their failure to keep up with the state’s energy demands. They need to be forced to face the reality that we need to build more supply. If California’s power industry were truly deregulated, the so-called “greedy” businessmen who run it would have built an ample power supply by now. Instead, thanks to a complex web of consumer and environmental regulations, we find ourselves in this mess.

MIRIAM JAFFE

Valley Village

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With the understanding that these blackouts are a part of our lives for the time being, I would hope that the companies would make things as easy on their customers as possible.

For instance, the blackouts take place for a period of one hour in the affected area. If Edison would be kind enough to start the blackout at the top (or bottom) of the hour it would definitely be helpful to those of us who have to depend on energy to do our work. That way, if our power was still on at 11:01 we would know we could continue working for at least another hour without being interrupted. To those of us who rely on electricity to work, it could be the difference between losing a lot of work or just readjusting our schedules.

FRANCINE BROKAW

El Segundo

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All outside lighting, except for traffic lights and street lamps, should go dark, 24 hours a day, until this crisis is over, and all businesses should be closed by 9 p.m. What is it about this we don’t understand?

BARBARA ROBINSON

Tustin

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I too am concerned, along with Arianna Huffington (Commentary, March 20), that President Bush found it necessary to “flip-flop” on his campaign promise to require all power plants to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. As I express my concern, however, I just heard on television that a rolling blackout has been ordered for the second straight day, this one affecting the low desert, where I reside. Also, as I am assuring that I have batteries for my flashlight and wondering what’s going to happen when we turn on our air conditioners very soon, I am most thankful that our president is at least “responding to realities” and taking steps to help alleviate this crisis. The last administration had no energy policy--except to tap our emergency supply of fuel.

WILLIAM H. SMITH

Palm Desert