Solar power can help California.
The legislation passed Thursday afternoon will let the state sign long-term contracts for up to a decade to buy power and sell it to the customers of the state's two largest utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Southern California Edison, which are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The bill had failed to pass earlier Thursday. Davis signed the bill one day before he meets with other Western governors in Oregon to discuss the energy crisis that is threatening to spread from his state to theirs. Meanwhile, Californians spent the 17th straight day of being under the highest level of alert, with rolling blackouts possible on short notice. Retailers, consumers asked to help While the legislative vote was under way, Davis held a news conference detailing his plan to conserve energy.