The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC)

Sacramento, California — A consumer group outraged at

spiraling electric bills wants to put a ballot initiative before

voters that would reverse the 1996 law deregulating California’s

power industry.

Harvey Rosenfield of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer

Rights said Tuesday that the initiative would place electrical

utilities under the authority of a citizens’ review board and set

up a public agency to operate the state’s power grid.

Utilities denounced the plan, saying it would create

bureaucracy but do little to develop energy supplies.

“Deregulation can work if all parties – the regulators, the

out-of-state generators, the consumer groups, the utilities –

work together appropriately,” said Ron Low, Pacific Gas and

Electric Co. spokesman.