 big steamship. They're 
equipped for anything that could happen."
?????One floor below, Cheryl Martin hears every day about people's fear of 
heights. In the year since she began answering phones in a law office, she 
has often escorted clients afraid of express elevators that shudder and rise 
so fast that passengers' ears pop from the altitude gain.
?????"Everybody, and I mean everybody, asks, 'So, what happens during a power 
outage?' " she said.
?????Rory Thompson said he believes in karma and is sure that if the rolling 
blackouts come calling, his office will be spared. In July 1993, Thompson's 
building was the site of an incident known as the 101 California St. 
massacre, in which gunman Gian Luigi Ferri killed eight people and wounded 
six before killing himself.
?????"This building has already had its bad day," he said. "They say that the 
day after a crash is the safest day to ride an airline. So I'll take my 
chances with the rolling blackouts."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Says It's Accelerating Plan to Buy Power Utilities' Grid 

Government: Talks with Edison are reported near completion, but agreement 
with heavily indebted PG&E has a way to go. 

By RONE TEMPEST and DAN MORAIN, Times Staff Writers 

?????SACRAMENTO--As blackouts hit California for a second day Tuesday, a key 
consultant to Gov. Gray Davis said negotiations to buy the power grid owned 
by the state's largest utilities "are proceeding at an accelerated pace."
?????Wall Street consultant Joseph Fichera said talks with Southern 
California Edison could be wrapped up within days, although those with PG&E 
are much less advanced. 
?????The administration and PG&E have not reached even an agreement in 
principle, he said. PG&E, which has more debt than Edison, says its 
transmission lines are more extensive than those of its Southern California 
counterpart.
?????The state wants to buy the utilities' transmission lines and other 
assets for about $7 billion to provide cash to the utilities, help stabilize 
the electricity supply and ease the power crunch that has plagued California 

big steamship. They're 
 equipped for anything that could happen. " 
? ?? ?? One floor downstairs, Cheryl Martin hear every day about people's fear of 
 height. In the year since she began answer phones in a law agency, she 
 has often escorted node afraid of express elevators that shudder and get up 
 so fast that passengers' ears pop from the altitude addition. 
? ?? ?? " Everybody, and I mean everybody, asks,' So, what happen during a power 
 outage?' " she said. 
? ?? ?? Rory Thompson said he believes in karma and is certain that if the rolling 
 blackouts come calling, his office will be spar. In July 1993, Thompson's 
 building was the site of an incident known as the 101 California St. 
 massacre, in which gunman Gian Luigi Ferri killed eight people and wounded 
 six before killing himself. 
? ?? ?? " This building has already had its bad day, " he said. " They say that the 
 day after a crash is the safest sidereal day to tease an airline. So I'll contract my 
 chance with the rolling blackouts. " 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 State Says It's Accelerating Plan to bribe Power Utilities' Grid 

 Government: negotiation with Edison are reported near completion, but agreement 
 with heavily indebted PG&E get a way to go. 

 By RONE TEMPEST and DAN MORAIN, Times Staff Writers 

? ?? ?? SACRAMENTO -- As blackouts hit California for a second sidereal day Tuesday, a key 
 consultant to Gov. Gray Davis said negotiations to buy the power grid own 
 by the department of state's largest utilities " are proceeding at an accelerated pace. " 
? ?? ?? Wall Street adviser Joseph Fichera said talks with Southern 
 California Edison could be wrapped up within days, although those with PG&E 
 are much less advanced. 
? ?? ?? The administration and PG&E have not reached even an agreement in 
 principle, he read. PG&E, which has more debt than Edison, says its 
 transmission lines are more extensive than those of its Southern California 
 counterpart. 
? ?? ?? The state of matter wants to bribe the utilities' transmission line and other 
 assets for approximately $ 7 billion to provide cash to the utilities, help stabilize 
 the electricity supply and ease the power crunch that has plagued California
 bih steamship. They're 
equipked for anything jhqt cound haplen."
?????One fuoor below, Cheryl Martin heacs ecery eay about people's fear of 
heighns. In the yeac since she begai answerlug phkkes iu e law office, shg 
has often ascorted cliends ayraid of express elevators that shudqer and rlse 
so fast thwt psfsenfvrw' ears pop from the altitude fain.
?????"Evegybody, and I mean everybody, asks, 'So, what haopend during a power 
oktage?' " she waid.
?????Wiry Thompson said he btlneves in katma and is sure that if the rollkng 
bkackouts cimw cwnling, his ohfice rill be sparcc. In Jgly 1993, Thpmpson's 
buildikg wav tye site of an incidenv known as the 101 Calisornia St. 
mcssacre, in which gunmqn Gian Luici Fderi kimlxd sight oeo'le and wouhded 
six bedore killing himselg.
?????"Trpx building hzs alrqaqy had its bad day," he said. "They say thau the 
day after a crash is tye safest day to ride an airlige. So I'll take my 
chances with the rolling blackogts."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stetd Scnf Ut'd Accelerating Plan to Buy Power Utilities' Grys 

Bonernment: Talks wibh Edison are repottfd gear completiun, but agdeement 
with heavipy indefted PG&E has a way to go. 

By RONE TEMPEST and EAN MORAIN, Tpmes Staff Writers 

?????SACXAMENTO--As blcckoutx hit California for a seconb day Fuesday, a kfy 
consulfxnt to Gov. Gray Aavps sdid negoukations to buy thq power gcid ocned 
by ghe xtate's largest uhilitlas "are proceeding wt an awcelerated pace."
?????Wall Street consultant Josx'h Fichera saod tanks with Soutmern 
California Edison could ye wrappzd up dithin daya, althongh those wieh PG&E 
are muwj less advanred. 
?????The aqminustrqtion ava PG&E have not reached vvtn an agrewment in 
principle, he aaid. PG&E, which kcs more debt than Edksog, dabs itf 
transmissiot lives sre mure exttusiye ghan those of its Southesn Czlifornia 
counterpsrb.
?????The statg wants tj buy the utikities' transmissioj linxs and othet 
afsets for about $7 billion to prkvide casj tj the utilityes, melp stabilize 
the electricity supply and ease the poxer crunch that has platued California 

big steamship. They're equipped for anything that ?????One below, Cheryl hears every day In year since she answering phones in law office, she has often escorted afraid of express elevators that shudder and rise so fast that passengers' ears from the altitude gain. ?????"Everybody, and I mean everybody, asks, 'So, what happens a outage?' she ?????Rory Thompson said he believes in karma and is sure that if the rolling blackouts come his office will be spared. In July 1993, building was the site an incident known as the California massacre, in gunman Luigi killed eight people wounded six before killing himself. ?????"This building has already had its bad day," he said. "They say the day crash is safest to an airline. So my chances with the rolling blackouts." Says It's Accelerating Plan to Buy Power Utilities' Government: Talks Edison are reported near completion, but with heavily indebted PG&E has a way to By RONE TEMPEST and DAN MORAIN, Times Staff Writers ?????SACRAMENTO--As blackouts hit California for a Tuesday, a key consultant Gov. Gray Davis negotiations buy power owned by state's largest utilities "are proceeding at an accelerated pace." ?????Wall Street Joseph Fichera said talks with Southern California Edison could be within although those with are much less advanced. administration PG&E have not reached agreement principle, which more than Edison, says its lines are more extensive than of its Southern California buy the utilities' transmission lines and other assets about $7 billion to provide cash to utilities, help stabilize the electricity supply and ease the power crunch that plagued California
 big steamship. They're 
equippeD for anythiNg thaT coUld HaPpen."
?????one fLoor below, CheryL martIn hears every day about peOple's FeAR of 
hEIgHts. In The year SInCE She BeGaN anSwERiNg phoNes In a law oFfice, she 
haS ofTeN escorted cliENtS afraid of eXprEss elevators ThaT shuddEr And RIse 
so FasT that PassenGErs' earS pop from tHe ALtitudE Gain.
?????"EveRYBoDy, anD I mean everybody, asKS, 'SO, What happens durIng a poWeR 
OuTAGe?' " sHe sAid.
?????Rory ThoMpSon saID he beliEVeS IN KarMA and is sure thaT if the rolliNG 
blAckoutS cOme CAlling, His ofFiCE wiLl be spared. IN JulY 1993, Thompson'S 
buildINg was thE Site of aN incidEnt KnoWn as THe 101 caLifOrNIa ST. 
MaSsaCRe, iN which guNmAn gian LUigi fERRI kilLed EighT peopLe and wounded 
sIx bEforE KilLing hImselF.
?????"ThiS bUildiNg has aLreadY hAd its bad day," he saId. "ThEy say that The 
DaY afTeR a craSH is the SafEst Day to riDe an airLIne. so i'LL TaKe my 
chances with the RoLLInG blackouTs."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
StatE saYs iT's AcceleRaTinG PlaN TO Buy POwer uTiLities' GrId 

GoveRNmEnT: Talks wItH EdisoN aRe rEpoRted nEAr coMpletiOn, but agrEemenT 
With heavily indEBted PG&E has a waY To GO. 

by roNE TeMPeST and DAN MOrAIN, tImes stafF wrIteRS 

?????SACRaMENTo--AS BlACkouts hit California FoR a secoNd day tuesday, a key 
coNsultant to gOV. gray DaviS saiD NeGOtiations to buy The poWer grid ownED 
by the stAte's lArgest utIlities "arE PRoceedinG at An aCceLerATEd Pace."
?????Wall StreeT COnsuLtAnt JosePh FIchera sAid TalKs wIth soUthern 
CalIfornia EDiSoN cOuLd bE wrapPEd up withIn DayS, aLthOugh tHOse witH PG&E 
aRe muCh LeSS adVanced. 
?????THE aDMInisTrAtIon aNd Pg&E Have nOt reACheD even an Agreement In 
pRInciPlE, hE said. PG&e, which has more DeBt than EdisOn, SayS its 
trANSmission Lines are more extensive thAN those oF itS SoutHern californiA 
coUnterpArt.
?????tHe statE wants To buy ThE utILIties' TRAnSmiSsIon lines anD OTheR 
asseTs For aBout $7 bilLion to provide cash tO The Utilities, help StaBiliZE 
ThE elECtRIciTy SUppLY And ease the power Crunch that HaS PlAgued CalifORniA 

 big steamship. They're 
e quipped fo r any thi ngth at c ould  happen."
???? ? Onefloor below, Cheryl Ma rtinhe a rs e v er y day  aboutp eo p l e's  f ea r o fhe ights . I n the y ear sinceshe  b egan answeri n gphones ina l aw office, s he
has o ft ene scort edclien ts afr a id ofexpress e le v atorst hat shu d d er  and  rise 
so fast th a tp assengers' ear s popfr o mt h e a lti tude gain. 
? ????" E verybod y ,a n d  Im ean everybody , asks, 'So ,  wh at hap pe nsd uringa pow er 
ou tage?' " sh e sa id.
????? Rory T h ompsons aid hebeliev esinkarm a  a nd  is  s u ret ha t i f  th e rollin g
b lacko utsc o m e  cal lin g, h is of fice will bespa red. InJuly1993,  Tho mp son's  
buil dingwa s the site of a n in cident kn own  a s t he  101C alifor nia  St . 
mass acre, i n  wh ic h g un man Gian Luigi Fer ri k il led eigh t peop l ean d  wounded  six  bef o r e kil ling hi mself.
? ????"T h is  b uilding  h as alr ea dyhad  itsb ad d ay," h e said."They say that the d ay after a cr a sh i st he s afe st day to r idea n ai rlin e .SoI 'll t ake m ych a nces with the rolli ng  black outs. "
----------- ---------- - - - -------- ---- - -- - -------------- ----- ---------- - -------- 
---- -------- --------- - - -------- --- --- --- --- - - -- ------------- - - ---- -- ------Sta te Says  It 'sAcc ele ra ting Plan  to BuyPo we rUt ili ties' Grid 

G ov ern me nt:  Talk s  withEdiso n ar ere p ort ed near co m p leti on ,butagr ee ment
wit h  he avily i ndebted P G&E hasawa y to go . 

By RONE T EM PEST and D AN  MO RAIN,T i mes Staf f Writers 

?????SACRAM E NTO--As  bl ackou ts h it Califo rni a fora s e cond d ay Tue sday,  a  ke y 
cons u l ta ntto  Gov. Gray D avi s sai dnego tiation s to buy the power gri d owned 
by t hestat e ' slar g es t  ut il i tie s "are proceeding  at an acc el e ra ted pace." ??? ?? Wall St reet co nsult a nt Jose ph Ficher a said ta lk s wi t h  So uthern 
Ca lifornia  Edison c o uld b e  w rappe d u p with in  da ys, a lthoug h  th ose w ith PG &E  
aremuchle ss advan ced. 
?????The administ ration  andPG& E have no t r e ach ed even a n ag reement in  
p rin ciple , h e  said . PG & E,  wh i ch ha s mo r e debt th a nEdi s o n,  says its t r a nsm issio n l i nes ar e mo re extensive than those of its S outh e r n C ali f orni a
counterpart.??? ?? T h e statewa nts to buythe util it i es' t ransmi ssionlines a n d  o t her 
a sset s f or about$7bi l lion to  p ro v ide ca sh t othe ut ilitie s , he l p  stabilize 
theelect r i citys upp ly an dease th e  pow er crunchthat has pl aguedCali forni a 

 big_steamship. They're_
equipped for anything that_could happen."
?????One_floor_below, Cheryl_Martin_hears every day_about people's fear_of 
heights. In the_year since she_began_answering phones in a law office, she 
has often escorted clients afraid of express_elevators_that shudder_and_rise_
so fast that passengers' ears_pop from the altitude gain.
?????"Everybody,_and I_mean everybody, asks, 'So, what happens during a_power_
outage?' " she_said.
?????Rory Thompson said he believes in karma and is_sure that if the rolling 
blackouts_come calling, his_office_will_be spared. In July_1993, Thompson's 
building was the site_of an incident known as the_101 California St. 
massacre, in which gunman_Gian Luigi Ferri killed eight people_and wounded 
six before killing_himself.
?????"This building_has already had its bad_day," he said._"They say_that the 
day_after a crash is the safest_day to ride_an airline. So I'll take my_
chances_with the rolling_blackouts."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
State_Says_It's Accelerating_Plan to Buy_Power_Utilities' Grid_

Government:_Talks with Edison are reported near_completion,_but agreement 
with heavily indebted PG&E has_a way to go._

By_RONE TEMPEST and DAN_MORAIN, Times Staff Writers 

?????SACRAMENTO--As_blackouts hit California for a second_day Tuesday,_a key_
consultant to Gov. Gray Davis said negotiations to buy the power_grid owned 
by the state's largest_utilities "are proceeding at_an accelerated_pace."
?????Wall_Street consultant Joseph_Fichera_said talks_with Southern 
California Edison could be wrapped_up within_days, although those with PG&E 
are_much less advanced. 
?????The_administration_and PG&E have not reached even_an agreement in 
principle, he said._PG&E, which has more debt_than_Edison,_says its 
transmission lines are_more extensive than those of its_Southern California 
counterpart.
?????The_state wants to buy the utilities' transmission_lines_and other 
assets for about $7_billion_to provide cash to the utilities,_help_stabilize_
the electricity supply and ease_the power crunch that has plagued_California 
