The idea is to take pressure off the power grid and make rotating blackouts less likely when demand for power is at the peak. Gov. Gray Davis called for months ago actually will avert sudden darkness is open to debate. But several local agencies contacted recently happily reported exceeding that mandate.
Anecdotal data are plentiful on how local governments have cut down energy consumption.
That city reduced electric power consumption by about 6,000 kilowatt hours from January to February at City Hall alone, said spokesman Mark Mazzaferro. The city has cut the energy consumed by traffic lights by 35 percent since January. Overall, Vallejo has cut its power consumption by 13 percent. Government offices across the state have taken a similar attitude ever since Davis issued an executive order to cut energy usage back in August. Vacaville officials also have taken large and small steps.