CPUC Commissioner Richard Bilas said the rollback passed by the state Senate might be illegal and would probably be challenged by electricity suppliers. Gov. Gray Davis has proposed his own version of a rate cap for San Diego. Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon, the chief architect of 1996 law that deregulated California s electricity market, has blamed the CPUC for a large share of the current troubles. Environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, have called for a boost in conservation and energy efficiency, which they said can provide 2,000 MW in demand reductions. They also have called for a prohibition on further divestiture of generation.
Utilities curtail electricity delivery to customers who have agreed to interruptible service.
Cooler temperatures were expected in California late last week.