Dow Jones Newswires

LOS ANGELES -(Dow Jones)- A California consumer group submitted a draft ballot initiative to the governor and state legislature Tuesday calling for a publicly owned and controlled electricity system.

The Foundation For Taxpayer and Consumer Rights called for the creation of a state power authority that would build and operate power plants, transmission and distribution facilities.

It also advocated the oversight of electricity rates by the state Public Utilities Commission, and the issuance of refunds to San Diego customers who were hit with large bills this summer when they were exposed to full market rates.

The consumer group filed papers Tuesday with the Secretary of State to establish a campaign committee called the Campaign for the Protection of Ratepayers, which would sponsor the 2002 ballot measure, FTCR announced at a press conference Tuesday.