Cash-starved Southern California Edison Co. agreed Monday to sell its transmission lines to the state. But that will not end California's power problems. Hebert has been the target of criticism from state officials, the utilities and consumer watchdog groups for refusing to cap growing wholesale power rates. FERC only has regulatory control over roughly half California's electricity, Hebert testified, since the rest is imported from Canada and municipal utilities not under federal jurisdiction. The conversation needs to stop.
Someone needs to start putting shovels in the ground.
PUC President Loretta Lynch told the panel Tuesday in Sacramento the agency allowed utilities to enter into such contracts last year, but the utilities chose not to do so. He said the PUC retained the right to review contracts after they were signed, which scared away generators unsure if they would see the money. The money will reimburse homeowners and business owners for money spent on such items as energy-efficient appliances and efficient lighting. Also Wednesday, a federal judge intervened in another power price battle, ordering Enron Energy Systems Inc. of Houston to abide by its agreement to sell cheap power to the California State University and University of California systems. Enron said it would appeal.