Other problems, including a shortage of new power plants, transmission glitches, low hydroelectric output and plant maintenance, have left California precariously low on electricity. Texas is set to deregulate its utility industry on Jan. 1, but analysts say it should not face a similar crisis. Texas is a large producer of natural gas used to fuel power plants. Texas has opened 22 new power plants since 1995 and 15 more are scheduled to come online by Jan. 1. California created its own problem, in part, by its reluctance to build power plants, opting instead to import electricity from other states, said TXU Electric spokesman Chris Schein.
Communities embrace it.
That doesn't seem to happen in California. Moseley acknowledged the campaign also is designed to alleviate fears that Texas may be headed for similar problems. Stories of rolling blackouts and lost business production are enough to raise questions about Texas' future in a deregulated electricity market, Moseley said. Now is the time to step up with this. Earlier this week, two Houston lawmakers filed a bill that would allow the Texas Public Utility Commission to delay full deregulation if necessary.