While unsure who to blame for skyrocketing electric rates, local residents and merchants are certain about one thing. Just hours after the Public Utilities Commission voted to hike rates by up to 46 percent, almost everyone interviewed at random had heard about the increase and had an opinion on it. It s a huge inconvenience, said Amanda Dunton of San Luis Obispo.
Prices are already so high here for rent and other things.
This is just one more thing to add on. Those idiots think that it s not going to do anything to the economy, the former test pilot said. Politicians were more likely than utility officials to be blamed for the crisis. Barbara Rieger, a teacher from San Luis Obispo, said she believes that the shortage was contrived by politicians, including Gov. Gray Davis. The governor had a hand it it, she said.