.
?????In other developments Friday:
?????* Preparing for a summer of tight energy supplies, the Public Utilities 
Commission proposed an overhaul of a controversial program in which 
businesses won reduced rates in exchange for having to go dark during power 
shortages. The "interruptible" program had caused businesses to lay off 
employees when their power was cut for weeks at a time. 
?????The PUC said new members of the program would not have power cut for 
more than four hours a day or 40 hours a month; existing customers' cuts 
would be limited to six hours a day.
?????* A day after Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham predicted long blackouts 
this summer, the PUC also tinkered with the way power is cut in California. 
The commission asked utilities to tell customers what block of circuits they 
are on. If that block must be blacked out, they could be warned by the news 
media. 
---
?????Simon reported from Washington and Rivera Brooks from Los Angeles. Times 
staff writer Nicholas Riccardi contributed to this story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
Hard-Boiled Bidding for Kilowatts 
Water agency said to be in over its head as a trader 
David Lazarus, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2001 
,2001 San Francisco Chronicle 
URL: 
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/18/M
N159243.DTL 

Sacramento -- The last line of defense in coping with California's energy 
crisis is a narrow, windowless room in a former department store on the 
outskirts of the state capital. 
There, a handful of men and women huddle over computer screens on a couple of 
folding tables for as long as 14 hours a day. Junk-food wrappers and bags of 
candy share the cluttered space with detailed charts and analyses. 
The numbers flash across the monitors -- offering prices from power companies 
stretching from Canada to Texas. There is little time to think. Within 
seconds, the traders are committing millions of dollars in public funds to 
secure enough electricity to keep California's lights on. 
This is, most people agree, not a good way for
. 
? ?? ?? In other developments Friday: 
? ?? ?? * Preparing for a summer of tight department of energy provision, the Public Utilities 
 Commission proposed an overhaul of a controversial platform in which 
 commercial enterprise won reduced rate in rally for having to go dark during power 
 dearth. The " interruptible " program had caused occupation to lay off 
 employees when their power was cut for weeks at a time. 
? ?? ?? The PUC say new members of the program would not consume power cut for 
 more than four hours a day or 40 hour a month; existing customers' cuts 
 would be limited to six hour a day. 
? ?? ?? * A day after Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham predicted long blackouts 
 this summer, the PUC also tinkered with the way power is cut in California. 
 The commission asked utilities to tell customers what block of circuits they 
 are on. If that pulley must be blacked out, they could be warned by the newsworthiness 
 medium. 
 --- 
? ?? ?? Simon reported from Washington and Rivera Brooks from Los Angeles. Times 
 staff writer Nicholas Riccardi contributed to this floor. 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 --------------------- 
 heavily - Boiled Bidding for Kilowatts 
 Water agency said to be in over its head as a trader 
 David Lazarus, Chronicle Staff Writer 
 Sunday, March 18, 2001 
, 2001 San Francisco Chronicle 
 URL: 
 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/18/M 
 N159243.DTL 

 Sacramento -- The final line of defense in coping with California's energy 
 crisis is a narrow, windowless room in a former department store on the 
 outskirts of the state capital. 
 There, a handful of men and charwoman huddle over computer screen on a couple of 
 fold tables for as long as 14 hours a day. Junk - food wrappers and base of 
 candy contribution the cluttered space with detailed charts and analysis. 
 The numbers dart across the monitors -- offering monetary value from power company 
 stretching from Canada to Texas. There cost little prison term to think. Within 
 seconds, the traders are committing millions of dollar in public funds to 
 secure enough electricity to keep California's lights on. 
 This is, most people agree, not a good way for
.
?????In lther developments Fridan:
?????* Preparing for c summec of tifht enerey supplies, the Public Utilivies 
Commussion proposed an ovefhaul of w controcersmal program in wijch 
busluessea won ceduced rates ik exchange xor having to co dcrk during power 
shortages. The "interwuptiblr" orogram had caosed ntsinssses to lay off 
employees when thsir powtr was cut for weels at a time. 
?????The PUC said jew lembers of the prohram would bot rqve power cug for 
more than four hkurs a day or 40 hours a month; exkstiny customers' cyts 
fould be linited to six hours a day.
?????* D day agter Energy Segretacy Spencer Abraham predicved long blackouts 
tris summes, che PUC also tinkered wuth tve wdy puqer is cnt jn Callfocnia. 
The cojmission asjed utilities to tekl bistomers whaf bloch jf circuits they 
are on. If that block mlst ge blacked out, they couod be warned by the ngws 
media. 
---
?????Fimon reported from Washington and Rivera Brooks xrom Mus Ckneler. Tlmes 
staff writer Nicholas Riccardi contributqs uo nhis story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
Hard-Boijed Bidding flr Hilowatts 
Watgr ageneg aaid to be in over its hewd as a trader 
Davod Lazarus, Chronicle Staff Qriter
Sunday, Narch 18, 2001 
,2001 San Francnsco Chronicue 
UTL: 
httl://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artiele.cgi?rile=/chronicpe/archive/2001/03/18/J
V159243.DTL 

Sacramento -- Thv lavt line of defense in copigg with Celifoxnia's endrgy 
crisif is a nargow, wltdowless room in a formgr depdrtment stlre on the 
outskirts of the stavx capital. 
Thete, d hdndful oy men snd women hudqle over compujer screeus on x couple or 
foldiig tables fow as long as 14 jours a day. Ounk-food rrappers and baer of 
candy shate the clltuered spacw with detailed cherts znd analyses. 
Thz bumbers flash avrors ehv mpnydors -- offeritg pficdx froo power comiankes 
xtretching from Canaga tk Texas. There is lotble time jo think. Rithin 
secondx, the traders are fommivting oillipns of dollars in public funds to 
secure ejounh electricitr to keep Califoxnia's lights on. 
This is, most people agrex, not a good way for
. ?????In other developments Friday: ?????* Preparing summer tight energy the Public Utilities a program in which won reduced rates exchange for having to go dark power shortages. The "interruptible" program had caused businesses to lay off employees when power was cut for weeks at a time. ?????The PUC said new members the would have cut for more than four hours a day or 40 hours a month; existing customers' cuts be limited to six hours a day. ?????* day after Energy Secretary Abraham predicted long blackouts this the also tinkered the power cut in California. commission asked utilities to tell customers what block of circuits they are on. If that block must blacked out, be warned the media. ?????Simon reported from Rivera Brooks from Los Angeles. Times Riccardi contributed to this story. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------- Hard-Boiled for Kilowatts agency said to be in over head as a trader David Lazarus, Chronicle Staff Sunday, March 18, 2001 ,2001 San Francisco Chronicle URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/18/M N159243.DTL Sacramento -- The last defense in coping with energy crisis is narrow, room a department store the outskirts of the state capital. There, a handful of men women huddle over computer screens on a couple of folding as as 14 hours day. Junk-food wrappers and of share the cluttered space charts analyses. across monitors offering prices from power stretching from Canada to Texas. is little time to are committing millions of dollars in public funds secure enough electricity to keep California's lights This is, most people agree, not a good way for
.
?????In other developments Friday:
?????* preparing fOr a suMmeR of TiGht eNergY supplies, the PuBLic UTilities 
Commission propOsed aN oVErhaUL oF a conTroversIAl PROgrAm In WhiCh 
BUsInessEs wOn reducEd rates in eXchAnGe for having tO Go Dark during PowEr 
shortages. THe "iNterruPtIblE" ProgrAm hAd cauSed busINesses To lay off 
eMpLOyees wHEn their POWeR was Cut for weeks at a timE. 
?????thE pUC said new membErs of tHe PRoGRAm wOulD not have poWeR cut fOR 
more thAN fOUR HouRS a day or 40 hours a Month; existiNG cuStomerS' cUts 
WOuld be LimitEd TO siX hours a day.
?????* A Day aFter EnergY SecreTAry SpenCEr AbrahAm predIctEd lOng bLAcKoUts 
ThIS suMMeR, thE pUC Also tinkErEd With tHe waY POWEr is Cut In CaLiforNia. 
The commissIon AskeD UtiLitieS to teLl cuStOmers What blOck of CiRcuits they 
are on. if thAt block muSt bE bLacKeD out, tHEy coulD be WarNed by thE news 
meDIa. 
---
?????SImON REpOrted from WashingtoN aND riVera BrooKs from lOs anGEles. TimeS 
sTafF wriTER NichOlas rIcCardi conTributED tO tHis storY.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
HArd-BoiLeD BiDdiNg for kIlowAtts 
WaTer agencY said TO be in over its heAD as a trader 
DavID LAZArUS, ChrOniCle Staff WriTer
SUNday, marcH 18, 2001 
,2001 saN FrANciscO ChroNiCLe 
urL: 
http://www.sfgate.com/cGi-Bin/artIcle.cGi?file=/chronicLe/archive/2001/03/18/M
n159243.dtl 

SacrameNto -- THE lASt line of defensE in coPing with CaLIfornia's EnergY 
crisis iS a narrow, wINDowless rOom In a ForMer DEPaRtment store on THE 
outSkIrts of tHe sTate capItaL. 
ThEre, A haNdFul of men aNd women hUdDlE oVeR coMputeR Screens oN a CouPlE of 
FoldiNG tableS for aS lonG aS 14 hOUrs A day. JunK-FoOD WrapPeRs And bAgs Of 
Candy SharE The ClutterEd space wiTh dETailEd ChArts and Analyses. 
The nuMbErs flash acRoSs tHe moniTORs -- offeriNg prices from power companIEs 
stretChiNg froM CanAda to TexaS. ThEre is lIttLE time tO think. withiN 
sEcoNDS, the tRADeRs aRe Committing MILliOns of DoLlarS in publIc funds to 
secure enoUGh eLectricity to kEep caliFORnIa's LIgHTs oN. 
THIs iS, MOst people agree, nOt a good way FoR
.
?????In other developmen ts Friday: 
???? ?*Pre pa ring  for  a summer of t i ghtenergy supplies, the P ublic  U t ilit i es  
Com mission pr o p ose dan  ov er h au l ofa c ontrove rsial prog ram  i n which 
bus i ne sses won r edu ced rates in  ex change  f orh aving  to  go d ark du r ing po wer 
shor ta g es. Th e  "inter r u pt ible " program had cau s ed businesses tolay of fem p l oye eswhen their  p owerw as cutf or w e eks at a time. 
? ????The PUC sai d newme mbe r s of t he pr og r amwould not h avepower cut  for m ore tha n  four h ours a  da y o r 40 ho ur s a  m o nth ;  e xis t ing  custome rs 'cuts
wou l d b e li mit ed t o six  hours a day. 
?? ???* A d ay af ter E nerg ySecre tary S pence rAbraham predict ed l ong black out s
th is  summ e r, the  PU C a lso tin kered w i thth e w ay  power is cut in C al i f or nia. 
Th e comm i ss io n  asked u ti lit iest o  tell  cus t om ers what  block of  c ircuits  t hey 
a re  on . I f tha t  blo ck mus t be bla ckedo ut, they could be warned byt he n ew s  
me dia . 
---
???? ?Sim o n re port e dfro m  Wash ingto na nd Rivera Brooks fromLo s Ange les.Times 
staffwriter Nic h o l as Ricca rdic on t ributed to thi s sto ry.
------ - -------- ----- -------- --------- - - -------- --- --- --- --- - - -- ------------- - - 
--- -- ------- --- ------Har d-B oil edBi dding for  Kilowat ts  Wa te r a gency said tobe  in  o ver  itsh ead as  a tr ader  Da v idLazarus ,  C h r onic le  S taff  Wr it er
Su nday ,  Ma rch 18,  2001 
,2 001 SanFr an cisco C hronicle 
URL :
http://ww w. sfg ate.co m / cgi-bin/ article.cgi?file=/chron i cle/arc hiv e/200 1/03 /18/M
N15 924 3.DTL

S a cramen to --The l as t l i n e ofd e fe nse  i n coping w i t h C alifo rn ia's  energy  
crisis is a narr o w,windowless ro omin a f or mer de p art me n t s t o re on the 
outs kirts of t he st ate capita l . Th ere, ahandful  of m e n and w omen hudd le over c om pute r scr eens on acouple o f 
foldin g  tabl e sfor a s l ong as  1 4 h oursa day. Jun k-foo d wrap pe rs and  bags  o f 
candy  share the cluttered sp ace wi th de tai led chart s a n d a nalyses.
The  numbers f las h a cross  th e  moni tors --  of f ering  pri c es from p o we r c o m pa nies 
stret c h i ngfromCan a da toTexa s. There is littl e  time to think . Wi t h in
se c onds ,the traders ar e c om m i tting mi ll ions of dol lars inpu b lic f unds t o 
sec ure eno u g he lectri city  to  keep Cal ifo rn i a's lig ht so n. 
Th is i s,  mostpeople agre e ,  not a good wayfor
.
?????In other_developments Friday:
?????*_Preparing for a summer_of tight_energy_supplies, the_Public_Utilities 
Commission proposed_an overhaul of_a controversial program in_which 
businesses won_reduced_rates in exchange for having to go dark during power 
shortages. The "interruptible" program_had_caused businesses_to_lay_off 
employees when their power_was cut for weeks at_a time._
?????The PUC said new members of the program_would_not have power_cut for 
more than four hours a day or_40 hours a month; existing customers'_cuts 
would be_limited_to_six hours a day.
?????*_A day after Energy Secretary Spencer_Abraham predicted long blackouts 
this summer,_the PUC also tinkered with the way_power is cut in California. 
The_commission asked utilities to tell_customers what_block of circuits they 
are_on. If that_block must_be blacked out,_they could be warned by the_news 
media. 
---
?????Simon_reported from Washington and Rivera Brooks_from_Los Angeles. Times_
staff_writer_Nicholas Riccardi_contributed to this_story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
Hard-Boiled_Bidding for_Kilowatts_
Water agency said to be in_over_its head as a trader 
David Lazarus,_Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, March_18,_2001 
,2001 San Francisco_Chronicle 
URL: 
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/18/M
N159243.DTL 

Sacramento --_The last line of defense in_coping with_California's energy_
crisis is a narrow, windowless room in a former department store_on the 
outskirts of the state_capital. 
There, a handful_of men_and_women huddle over_computer_screens on_a couple of 
folding tables for as_long as_14 hours a day. Junk-food wrappers_and bags of 
candy_share_the cluttered space with detailed charts_and analyses. 
The numbers flash across_the monitors -- offering prices_from_power_companies 
stretching from Canada to_Texas. There is little time to_think. Within 
seconds,_the traders are committing millions of dollars_in_public funds to 
secure enough electricity_to_keep California's lights on. 
This is,_most_people_agree, not a good way_for