Learn from Calif. mistake
<p class="source">USA TODAY</p>
<p>The myth of electricity deregulation has met reality in California, and the result is a $ 40 billion debacle.</p>
Energy
Electricity rate rage growing
<h3>Consumers fight back with a Web site and calls for a ballot measure.</h3><p class="source">The Fresno Bee</p>
<p>As state officials talk about raising electricity rates by 26% to 40% to pay for blundering into a deregulated market, an outrage is building.</p>
Californians fault Bush energy proposal
<p class="source">The Associated Press</p>
<p>Many Californians, struggling with sharply higher gasoline prices and rising electricity rates, found little comfort in President Bush's national energy plan released Thursday.</p>
Feds want surcharge to pay utilities’ debts
<h3>Additional rate boost likely, cash would go to power suppliers</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p>
<p>Federal energy regulators have proposed a surcharge on wholesale electricity sales in California to compensate generating companies, angering state officials who say the idea amounts to gouging consumers.</p>
Edison rescue won’t require sale of lines
<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p>
<p>A key Assembly committee voted Monday night to support acquiring a five-year option to purchase Southern California Edison's transmission lines at double their book value as part of a $2.9 billion state rescue plan.</p>
Consumer groups wary of new player
<h3>They fear it may saddle taxpayers with more debt</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p>
<p>Consumer watchdog groups that have long bird-dogged the utilities on behalf of ratepayers are facing mounting challenges, and it's not only because of the power crisis.</p>
Legislators to tackle utility crisis
<h3>They insist gifts from industry won't sway them</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p>
<p>When the state Legislature begins its new session in earnest this week, the utility companies and electricity generators at odds over the state's power woes will be familiar faces at the Capitol</p>
NATURAL GAS SUPPLIERS ARE REFUSING TO SELL TO PG&E
<h3>UTILITY SAYS THE COMPANIES FEAR IT MAY NOT HAVE MONEY FOR FUTURE CONTRACTS. IT IS ASKING STATE FOR RATE HIKES.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p>
<p>More than 15 natural gas suppliers are refusing to sell gas to cash-squeezed Pacific Gas & Electric beyond their current contracts for fear they won't be paid, the utility said Friday</p>
Utilities, consumers, governor ponder looming rate hike
<p class="source">The Associated Press</p>
<p>State regulators have given electrical utilities extra time to show their financial hardship merits a significant rate hike for 24 million Californians.</p>
Nader, utilities clash at PUC: Power firms seek double-digit hikes
<p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO -- With national focus on California's electricity crisis growing, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. began notifying customers that it wants to boost their electric bills up to 40 percent by the end of 2001.</p>
Let debt-ridden utilities go bankrupt, says Nader
<h3>PG&E aide labels idea irresponsible</h3><p class="source">San Diego Union-Tribune</p>
<p>SAN FRANCISCO -- Consumer activist Ralph Nader stepped into the battle over California's failed electrical deregulation yesterday, urging the state to allow Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison to go bankrupt.</p>
Utilities seek immediate rate hike to avoid insolvency
<p class="source">The Associated Press</p>
<p>Two huge utilities are seeking permission to make consumers pay as much as 30 percent more for their electricity, saying the deregulated energy market has left them $9 billion in the red.</p>