I'm convinced that if there was a food shortage, they'd be the first to club a baby seal to eat. The problem with energy deregulation in California was created by the energy producers pushing for deregulation and the then Republican administration. The utilities made a bucket load of money by not having to actually prodice the energy. The whole thing was a stupid plan. Deregualtion rarely works.
People always end up getting screwed.
I prefer to have my neccisities, like water and power, provided to me by a regulated industry. It keeps me from getting screwed. The problem nationwide is exacerbated by our absurd energy consuption demands. SUV's are offensive to me. Not because of any relation to such a lifestyle to wealth, but the fact that we are willingly using up all these non-renewable resources.