Consumer confidence is down.
Amid rising concern about the state s economy, a solid majority of residents say they are closely following the news about the California power crisis, according to the latest Los Angeles Times poll. Many instead blame greed on the part of wholesalers and private energy utilities for rising prices and threats of rolling blackouts. Even though more Californians said they blame the state s private utilities, the California Legislature, the Public Utility Commission, and deregulation itself than said they blame Gray Davis for the power shortage problems in California, there are some signs that he may not escape political fallout from the public s belief that deregulation has failed. The Governor s job approval rating and overall impressions are down from when measured last year, and more disapprove than approve of the way he s handled the electricity crisis so far. In 1996, the California Legislature overwhelmingly approved electricity deregulation, which was seen by both parties at the time as a way to combat the disproportionately high consumer prices for power in the state.