State tourism officials insist that disruptions caused by blackouts will be minimal, but the parks aren't taking any chances. Lobbyists for Universal Studios Hollywood are working to have the theme park added to a bill that could help the power stay on. The legislation, Assembly Bill 54X, would allow the state's No. 2 attraction, with 5.2 million visits last year, to buy power from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which has a more stable supply than Edison, the park's current supplier. In a marketing offensive, SeaWorld will send 10 Volkswagen Beetles customized to resemble killer whales on a tour of the West this summer. SeaWorld saw its electricity prices triple last year as San Diego underwent deregulation.
Hoteliers say their businesses are seriously threatened by the power crisis.
Most tourists would rather not run the risk of being stuck in a hotel elevator. Summer is the off-season in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where temperatures soar into the triple digits. Some hotels say that given the added cost of power, it makes sense to close. For the first time, the Palm Springs Marquis, a 165-room luxury hotel, is shutting from July 1 to Aug. 25 due to the power crisis. Around the state, hotel operators say they are already seeing a decline in occupancy, forcing them to cut rates on rooms.