 a federal tax refund to 
its troubled utility unit, which is seeking billions in compensation for 
costs it says it incurred buying power for its customers. 
The parent companies of PG&E and Southern California Edison have been 
criticized for draining billions from their respective utility units in 
recent years. 
Consumer groups and others oppose additional payments to the utilities, but 
the governor has said he will not allow them to go bankrupt. 
?Davis will spend more than $51 million over two years on consultants to help 
negotiate power contracts and on an advertising campaign to educate the 
public about energy conservation. 
The Governor's Office released copies of the contracts yesterday afternoon. 
They range from $25,000 to $40 million in cost and include contracts for 
legal and financial assistance. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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OPEC Cut Cited in Call to Boost U.S. Oil Output 
Energy: Cartel's decision to trim production by 4% could raise fuel prices as 
summer approaches. 

By DAVID WILLMAN, Times Staff Writer 

?????WASHINGTON--With consumers facing a possible increase in gasoline prices 
at the pump, President Bush's Energy secretary said Saturday that the 
decision by major foreign oil producers to slash output emphasizes the need 
to increase production within the United States.
?????"OPEC's decision [late Friday] demonstrates the importance of increasing 
America's domestic production and developing a national energy policy that 
will ensure a stable, reliable, affordable and diverse supply of energy," 
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said. He added: "There is an urgent need to 
strengthen America's energy security."
?????Abraham's comments came in reaction to an agreement by the Organization 
of Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut its targeted oil output by 4%--1 
million barrels a day. The action by the 11-nation cartel could raise prices 
for crude oil and the refined gasoline that powers Americans' automobiles and 
trucks.
?????The cutback will take effect April 1, OPEC said. The nations' output 
quota will fall to 24.2 million barrels a day from the current level of 25.2 
million barrels. OPEC members pump almost 40% of the world's oil.
?????Abraham called OPEC's action "
a federal tax refund to 
 its troubled utility unit, which is try billion in compensation for 
 costs it says it receive buying power for its customers. 
 The parent caller of PG&E and Southern California Edison have been 
 criticized for draining billion from their respective utility units in 
 late years. 
 Consumer groups and others oppose additional requital to the utilities, but 
 the governor has said he will not allow them to go bankrupt. 
? Davis will spend more than $ 51 million over two years on adviser to help 
 negotiate power contract and on an advertising campaign to train the 
 public about department of energy conservation. 
 The Governor's Office released copies of the contracts yesterday afternoon. 
 They range from $ 25,000 to $ 40 million in cost and admit contracts for 
 legal and financial assistance. 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------  

 OPEC Cut Cited in Call to Boost U.S. Oil Output 
 Energy: Cartel's decision to snip production by 4% could raise fuel prices as 
 summer approaches. 

 By DAVID WILLMAN, Times Staff Writer 

? ?? ?? WASHINGTON -- With consumers facing a possible increase in gasoline prices 
 at the pump, President Bush's Energy repository say Saturday that the 
 decision by major extraneous petroleum producers to slash output stress the need 
 to increase production within the United States. 
? ?? ?? " OPEC's decision [ late Friday ] attest the importance of increasing 
 America's domestic production and developing a national energy policy that 
 will ensure a static, reliable, affordable and diverse supply of energy, " 
 Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said. He added: " There cost an urgent need to 
 strengthen America's energy security. " 
? ?? ?? Abraham's gossip came in reaction to an agreement by the Organization 
 of Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut its target oil output signal by 4%--1 
 million barrels a day. The natural process by the 11 - nation cartel could lift prices 
 for unrefined oil and the polished gasoline that powers Americans' car and 
 trucks. 
? ?? ?? The cutback will take effect April 1, OPEC say. The nations' output 
 quota will fall to 24.2 million barrels a day from the current level of 25.2 
 million barrels. OPEC members pump almost 40% of the world's oil. 
? ?? ?? Abraham call OPEC's action "
 a vederal tax refund to 
itr troubled utilnry univ, which is seekkng billions in compensation fir 
cowts it says it incurrea buying iower for its xustomers. 
Vge parekc comlwniev of PG&E and Soothern Califmrnia Edison hdvd yeen 
criticized for draining billionf from yhfir respective utikyty hnits in 
recent years. 
Consumer grohps and others opposr additional payments to tje uhilities, but 
the glvernor has saiq he will not allow them to go banktupt. 
?Davis will spend more than $51 millnon over twi teagv on consulvants no help 
negotlste pofer conyracts and on sn edveetising campaign to evucate the 
public abjut energf eonservation. 
The Goveenir's Oxfica reuwasdd do'iea of tje rontracts yssterday afrernoon. 
They range grjn $25,000 to $40 millioh in cjse and include contracts for 
legal and fpnandial assistance. 
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OPEC Xut Cited in Call to Hoost U.S. Jil Output 
Energy: Cartel's decision to trim producdion uy 4% ciuja rwise fuel prices as 
summer approaches. 

By DAVIQ WOLKMAN, Times Stanf Writer 

?????WASHINGTPN--Aiyr consumers fxcing c pkssible increase ij gasolyne peices 
at uhe pimp, President Bush's Energy wecretary sapd Sqturday that the 
dzcision by mcjor fpreigm oil producers to slask outpht emphasizfs the nesa 
to increase prudubtiot within the United States.
?????"JPEC's decmsion [late Ffidai] demonftrates thf importance of increasijg 
Amgrica's domestic oroduction and developing a natmpnal energy kolhcy that 
wijl enxure a stable, reliable, affotdable anb divefse supply of enecgy," 
Energy Sqcretary Spenwgr Abraham samd. He addqd: "Tyere is an jfgent need to 
xtrengtheu Ameeica's energy securlty."
?????Abtagam's comments ccot un reaction to an agwevmeit by dhe Organizadion 
of Letroueum Exkjrbine Cointries to cut its tdrgefed oil output by 4%--1 
mlllion batrels a dwy. The action by the 11-nation caruel conld ramse procef 
for crude oil and the refines gasolinf tmat powers Amqricqns' automobikes and 
trucks.
?????The cutback will take effxct April 1, OPEC said. Thw nations' output 
qupua will fall vo 24.2 mijlion barsels a day from the xurrent level of 25.2 
million barrels. OPEC membess pulp almost 40% of the world's oil.
?????Abraham called OPEC's action "
a federal tax refund to its troubled which seeking billions compensation for costs power its customers. The companies of PG&E Southern California Edison have been criticized draining billions from their respective utility units in recent years. Consumer groups and oppose additional payments to the utilities, but the governor has said he will allow to bankrupt. will spend more than $51 million over two years on consultants to help negotiate power contracts on an advertising campaign to educate the public energy conservation. The Governor's released copies of the contracts afternoon. range from to million cost and include for legal and financial assistance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEC Cut Cited in Call to Boost U.S. Oil Output Cartel's decision production by could fuel as summer approaches. WILLMAN, Times Staff Writer ?????WASHINGTON--With consumers increase in gasoline prices at the pump, President Energy secretary Saturday that the decision by major oil producers to slash output emphasizes the need increase production within the United States. ?????"OPEC's decision [late Friday] demonstrates the importance of increasing production and developing a energy policy that ensure stable, affordable diverse supply energy," Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said. He added: "There is an need to strengthen America's energy security." ?????Abraham's comments came in an by the Organization Petroleum Exporting Countries to its oil output by 4%--1 a The 11-nation could prices for crude oil the refined gasoline that powers automobiles and trucks. ?????The 1, OPEC said. The nations' output quota will to 24.2 million barrels a day from current level of 25.2 million barrels. OPEC members pump almost 40% of world's oil. OPEC's action "
 a federal tax refund to 
its troUbled utiliTy uniT, whIch Is SeekIng bIllions in compeNSatiOn for 
costs it says it incuRred bUyINg poWEr For itS customERs. 
tHE paReNt ComPaNIeS of PG&e anD SoutheRn CalifornIa EDiSon have been 
cRItIcized for dRaiNing billions FroM their ReSpeCTive uTilIty unIts in 
rECent yeArs. 
ConsumEr GRoups aND others OPPoSe adDitional payments tO ThE Utilities, but 
thE goverNoR HaS SAid He wIll not alloW tHem to GO bankruPT. 
?DAVIS wiLL spend more thaN $51 million oveR Two Years oN cOnsULtants To helP 
nEGotIate power coNtraCts and on aN adverTIsing caMPaign to EducatE thE 
puBlic ABoUt EneRgY ConSErVatIOn. 
THe GovernOr'S OFfice ReleASED CopiEs oF the ContrActs yesterday AftErnoON. 
ThEy ranGe froM $25,000 to $40 mIlLion iN cost aNd incLuDe contracts for 
lEgal And financIal AsSisTaNce. 
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OPec Cut CiTed In CAll to BoOst U.S. OiL outPuT 
eNErGy: Cartel's decision tO tRIM pRoductioN by 4% couLD rAiSE fuel priCeS as 
SummER ApproAcheS. 

by dAVID WILlMAN, TiMEs stAff WritEr 

?????wASHINgToN--WIth ConsuMErs fAcing a Possible IncreASe in gasoline prICes 
at the pump, PREsIDEnT bush'S EnErgy secretaRy saID SatUrdaY ThAt tHE 
deciSion bY mAJoR Foreign oil producers To Slash oUtput Emphasizes the Need 
to incrEASE productIon wIThIN the United StatEs.
?????"OPEc's decision [LAte FridaY] demoNstrates The importANCe of incrEasIng 
ameRicA'S DoMestic productION and DeVelopinG a nAtional EneRgy PolIcy ThAt 
will ensUre a stabLe, ReLiAbLe, aFfordABle and diVeRse SuPplY of enERgy," 
EneRgy SeCretArY SPEncEr AbrahAM sAID. He aDdEd: "therE is An UrgenT neeD To 
sTrengthEn America'S enERgy sEcUrIty."
?????AbraHam's comments cAmE in reactioN tO an AgreemENT by the OrGanization 
of Petroleum ExPOrting COunTries To cuT its targeTed Oil outPut BY 4%--1 
milliOn barrEls a dAy. the ACTion bY THe 11-NatIoN cartel couLD RaiSe priCeS 
for Crude oiL and the refined gasoLIne That powers AmeRicAns' aUTOmObiLEs ANd 
tRuCKs.
?????THE Cutback will take Effect ApriL 1, OpeC Said. The natIOns' OuTput 
quoTa will fAll to 24.2 MIllion bArrels a daY from the cUrRent LEVel Of 25.2 
million bArrels. OPeC members PUmp alMOsT 40% of thE woRld's oiL.
?????ABraHam caLled OPec's aCtion "
 a federal tax refund to its troubl ed ut ili tyun it,whic h is seeking b i llio ns in compensation for  
cos ts it s a ys  it i ncurred bu y i ngpo we r f or it s cus tom ers. 
T he parentcom pa nies of PG&E an d Southern  Ca lifornia Edi son  havebe encriti ciz ed fo r drai n ing bi llions fr om theirr especti v e  u tili ty units in 
rece n ty ears. 
Consume r grou ps an d oth ers  oppose ad di tiona l  paymen t st o the utilities, bu t 
the gove r nor  has s ai d h e  willnot a ll o w t hem to go b ankr upt. 
?Da vis wi l l spend more th an $51  mi lli on o v er  t woye a rso ncon s ult ants tohe lp  
neg otia t e p ower  co ntra cts a nd on an adve rti sing cam paign  to e duca te  the
publi c abo ut  energy conserv atio n. 
The G ove rn or' sOffic e  relea sed  co pies of  the co n tra ct s y es terday afternoon.
T h e yrange fr om $25 , 00 0t o $40 mi ll ion  inc o st an d in c lu de contr acts f o r
l egal an dfinanc ia l a ssi stanc e . 
- ------ -------- ----- - -------------- - ------------- - -- - - -- - ---- --- ----------- ---- ---- ---- - -- --- - ----- ----- -- - -- - ------------------- -- ------ ----- ---  

OPEC C ut Cited i n C all to B oost U. S . Oil Output Energ y: Cartel' s  decisio n totrim pro duction b y 4% could  ra ise  fu elp r ic es as 
summer a ppro ac hes. 
ByDAVID W ILL MAN , T ime sStaff Wri ter 

?? ?? ?W AS HI NGT ON--W i th consu me rsfa cin g a p o ssible  incr ease  i ng aso line pr i ce s 
atth epump , P re siden t Bu s h's  Energy  secretar y s a id S at ur day tha t the 
decisi on  by majorfo rei gn oil p roducers  to slash output emphas i zes the  ne ed 
t o in crease pr odu ctionwit h in the  Unite d Sta te s.? ? ???"O P E C' s d ec ision [lat e Fri day]de mons tratesthe importance ofi ncr easing 
Ameri ca' s do m e st icp ro d uct io n  an d developing a na tional ene rg y  p olicy that 
wi ll  ensure  a stab le, r e liable,  affordab le and di ve rses u ppl y of energ y," 
Ene rgy Secre t ary S p en cer A bra ham sa id . H e add ed: "T h ere  is a n urge nt  needto 
s tr engthenAmerica's energy securi ty."
? ????A bra ham's com men t s c ame in re acti on to an a gre eme nt by  th e  Orga niza t io n o f Pet role u m Exporti n gCou n t ri es to cut i t s tar geted  oi l  outpu t by  4%--1 
million b a rrels a day. T he a c t ion  by the11 -nation cartel  co ul d raise pr ic es 
for cru de oil a nd the r efined  gasol ine tha t po w ers Am eric ans ' automob ile sa nd 
tru ck s. ?????T he c ut back w ill ta k e ef f e ct April 1, OPEC  said . The n a tio ns' o ut put 
qu o ta w ill fall t o 24.2 mill ion ba rrel s a d ay from  t he cur ren tlevel of 2 5 .2 
milli on ba rrels.OP EC m emb ers pu mp a l m ost 4 0% o fthe  world'so i l. ?? ?? ? Abr aham  call ed  OPE C's actio n  "
 a_federal tax_refund to 
its troubled_utility unit,_which_is seeking_billions_in compensation for_
costs it says_it incurred buying power_for its customers._
The_parent companies of PG&E and Southern California Edison have been 
criticized for draining billions_from_their respective_utility_units_in 
recent years. 
Consumer groups_and others oppose additional payments_to the_utilities, but 
the governor has said he will_not_allow them to_go bankrupt. 
?Davis will spend more than $51 million_over two years on consultants to_help 
negotiate power_contracts_and_on an advertising campaign_to educate the 
public about energy_conservation. 
The Governor's Office released copies_of the contracts yesterday afternoon. 
They range_from $25,000 to $40 million in_cost and include contracts for_
legal and_financial assistance. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------  

OPEC_Cut Cited in_Call to_Boost U.S. Oil_Output 
Energy: Cartel's decision to trim_production by 4%_could raise fuel prices as 
summer_approaches._

By DAVID WILLMAN,_Times_Staff_Writer 

?????WASHINGTON--With_consumers facing a_possible_increase in_gasoline_prices 
at the pump, President Bush's_Energy_secretary said Saturday that the 
decision by_major foreign oil producers_to_slash output emphasizes the_need 
to increase production within_the United States.
?????"OPEC's decision [late Friday]_demonstrates the_importance of_increasing 
America's domestic production and developing a national energy policy that_
will ensure a stable, reliable, affordable_and diverse supply of_energy," 
Energy_Secretary_Spencer Abraham said._He_added: "There_is an urgent need to 
strengthen America's_energy security."
?????Abraham's_comments came in reaction to an_agreement by the Organization_
of_Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut its_targeted oil output by 4%--1 
million_barrels a day. The action_by_the_11-nation cartel could raise prices_
for crude oil and the refined_gasoline that powers_Americans' automobiles and 
trucks.
?????The cutback will take_effect_April 1, OPEC said. The nations'_output_
quota will fall to 24.2 million_barrels_a_day from the current level_of 25.2 
million barrels. OPEC members_pump almost 40% of the world's oil.
?????Abraham called OPEC's_action "