 Wildlife Service and the National Weather Service. 
The so-called Joint Operations Center occupies a renovated department store 
in an otherwise mundane Sacramento shopping mall. 
DWR workers deliberately ask reporters not to say where exactly the facility 
is located. They're concerned that disgruntled consumers will vent their 
frustration over high energy prices by attacking the building, as the man who 
rammed a truck into the state Capitol in January allegedly did. 
The makeshift "Grid Operations Center," where power is now being purchased, 
is tucked away behind a locked door on the third floor. Sonny Fong, the DWR's 
emergency preparedness manager, watched nervously as a recent visitor cast 
his eyes over the whiteboards on the room's walls. 
The boards list all the power companies with which the DWR is trading and the 
prices that each is charging California for electricity. 
"Don't write any of that down," Fong admonished. "It's secret information. We 
can't let any of that get out." 
Keeping a lid on its activities has become a full-time job for the DWR. For 
example, Fong adamantly refuses to allow anyone to speak with the 
department's traders, even during breaks in the action. 
"If I let you do it," he said, "I'd have to let everyone do it." 
Similarly, Patel, the power systems manager, said he could not under any 
circumstances open his desk drawer and show a visitor one of the 40 long-term 
contracts signed by the DWR this month with generators. 
SEEKING ACCESS TO CONTRACTS
Access to the contracts, involving about $40 billion in public funds, has 
been sought by lawmakers, consumer groups and a number of media 
organizations, including The Chronicle. 
In response, the governor's office has insisted that disclosure of specific 
contract terms would jeopardize the DWR's bargaining position and thus be 
contrary to "public interest." 
"If I let you see them, I would have to let everyone see them," Patel said. 
He did acknowledge, though, that the contracts contain so much legal 
gobbledygook that "you probably would not understand them in any case." 
It's Hannigan, as head of the
Wildlife Service and the National Weather Service. 
 The so - called Joint Operations Center occupies a renovated department storehouse 
 in an differently mundane Sacramento shopping mall. 
 DWR worker measuredly ask reporters not to read where precisely the facility 
 is located. They're concerned that disgruntled consumer will vent their 
 frustration over high energy prices by attacking the construction, as the man who 
 rammed a truck into the state Capitol in January allegedly did. 
 The makeshift " Grid Operations Center, " where ability is now being purchased, 
 is tucked aside behind a locked door on the third floor. Sonny Fong, the DWR's 
 emergency preparedness director, watched nervously as a recent visitor cast 
 his eyes over the whiteboards on the room's walls. 
 The board list all the power companies with which the DWR is trading and the 
 prices that each is charge California for electricity. 
 " Don't write any of that down, " Fong admonished. " It's secret information. We 
 can't let any of that get out. " 
 Keeping a lid on its activities has become a full - clock time job for the DWR. For 
 example, Fong adamantly defy to leave anyone to speak with the 
 department's traders, even during breaks in the action. 
 " If I let you do it, " he said, " I'd accept to let everyone do it. " 
 Similarly, Patel, the power systems manager, said he could not under any 
 context open his desk drawer and show a visitor one of the 40 long - term 
 contracts sign by the DWR this month with generators. 
 SEEKING ACCESS TO CONTRACTS 
 Access to the contracts, involving approximately $ 40 billion in public funds, has 
 been sought by lawmakers, consumer groups and a number of media 
 organizations, including The Chronicle. 
 In response, the governor's function has insisted that disclosure of specific 
 contract terms would endanger the DWR's bargaining position and therefore be 
 contrary to " public interest. " 
 " If I let you see them, I would receive to let everyone see them, " Patel said. 
 He did acknowledge, though, that the contracts check so much legal 
 gobbledygook that " you probably would not understand them in any case. " 
 It's Hannigan, as head of the
 Wipdlife Service and the Nxtional Weather Servicx. 
The sk-called Goint Operations Center occu'ies a rebovated department stofe 
in an ltherwisw muidane Sacramento shoppinn malm. 
DWR xorkers deliberstely ask seporters not do scy where exactly the facility 
is locwted. Thry'ge concerned trat cysgrhntled consumers will vent their 
fdustratpon over high enetgy prices by attacking thf bullding, as the man aho 
rammed q trtxk into the rtate Capiuon in Januaty allegedly did. 
The makeshift "Gfid O'erations Cgurer," fhere power is njw being purgnased, 
hs tuckrd away behind a nocjed door on the third floor. Sonny Fong, jhe DWR's 
ekexgency preparedness mqnqger, fatcved vwrvuusmy aa a refenv visitor czst 
his eyew over the whiteboatdf on the room's walls. 
Tre boards list all the power companies fitg which the DWR is tradung and the 
prices thwt each if charging California for electricity. 
"Don't write dny oh ghau eown," Winh admonished. "It's secret information. We 
can't lqf snj of that get out." 
Keeping a kif pg its activitkes has bscome a full-time jlb for jhe DWE. For 
exaiple, Fong adamantly refuses to qllow anyone ro speak with the 
bepartment's craderx, evem during breaks in the cction. 
"If I let ylu do it," gd said, "I'd have tu lvt eeeryone do it." 
Similarly, Paeel, the piwer systemr mamager, faid he cokld not under any 
circumdtancgs opet his desk drawer and show a visitor one of the 40 long-tetm 
wonnracts siyned bn the DWR this ionth with gengrators. 
SZEKING ACCESS TO CONTRARTS
Access to the contractv, involving auout $40 biljion in public wjnds, has 
been xought by lawmakers, consumer groups akd a vhmber of media 
irgqnizations, inclidivg Ehv Cironisne. 
In responve, tfe epvernur's office mas insosted that disclosura of specific 
contract tcrms woule jeoparqize the DWR's bargaining positiln anv thus be 
cpnttary to "public interest." 
"If I lef you see thcm, I would hade ti let everyoue see them," Patel said. 
He did acknowledgx, though, that the conttacts contain so much kegal 
gobblxdygooh that "yog probably would not understand them ln any case." 
It's Hannigzn, as vead lf the
Wildlife Service and the National Weather Service. Joint Center occupies renovated department store shopping DWR workers deliberately reporters not to where exactly the facility is located. concerned that disgruntled consumers will vent their frustration over high energy prices by the building, as the man who rammed a truck into the state Capitol January did. makeshift Operations Center," where power is now being purchased, is tucked away behind a locked door on third floor. Sonny Fong, the DWR's emergency preparedness watched nervously as a visitor cast his eyes over whiteboards the room's The list the power companies which the DWR is trading and the prices that each is charging California for electricity. "Don't write of that admonished. "It's information. can't any of that Keeping a lid on its activities full-time job for the DWR. For example, Fong refuses to anyone to speak with the department's even during breaks in the action. "If I you do it," he said, "I'd have to let everyone do it." Similarly, Patel, the manager, said he could under any circumstances his drawer show visitor one the 40 long-term contracts signed by the DWR this month with SEEKING ACCESS TO CONTRACTS Access to the contracts, involving about in funds, has been by lawmakers, consumer groups a of media organizations, including In the insisted disclosure specific contract terms would the DWR's bargaining position and be contrary to "public see them, I would have to let everyone them," Patel said. He did acknowledge, though, the contracts contain so much legal gobbledygook that "you probably would not them in It's Hannigan, as head of the
 Wildlife Service and the NatiOnal WeatheR ServIce. 
the So-CallEd JoInt Operations CENter Occupies a renovated depaRtmenT sTOre 
iN An OtherWise munDAnE sAcrAmEnTo sHoPPiNg malL. 
DWr workerS deliberatEly AsK reporters noT To Say where exActLy the facilitY 
is LocateD. THey'RE concErnEd thaT disgrUNtled cOnsumers wIlL Vent thEIr 
frustRATiOn ovEr high energy priceS By ATtacking the buiLding, aS tHE mAN Who 
RamMed a truck iNtO the sTAte CapiTOl IN jAnuARy allegedly diD. 
The makeshiFT "GrId OperAtIonS center," Where PoWEr iS now being puRchaSed, 
is tuckEd away BEhind a lOCked dooR on the ThiRd fLoor. sOnNy fonG, tHE DWr'S 
eMerGEncY prepareDnEsS manaGer, wATCHEd neRvoUsly As a reCent visitor caSt 
hIs eyES ovEr the WhiteBoarDs On the Room's wAlls. 
THe Boards list all thE powEr companiEs wItH whIcH the Dwr is traDinG anD the 
priCes that EAch Is CHARgIng California for elEcTRIcIty. 
"Don't wRite anY Of ThAT down," FonG aDmoNishED. "it's seCret INfOrmation. we 
can't LEt AnY of that GeT out." 
KeEpIng A liD on itS ActiVities Has becomE a fulL-Time job for the Dwr. For 
example, FoNG aDAMaNTly rEfuSes to allow aNyonE To spEak wITh The 
DEpartMent's TrADeRS, even during breaks in ThE actioN. 
"If I lEt you do it," he saId, "I'd have to LET Everyone Do it." 
sImILarly, Patel, the pOwer sYstems manaGEr, said he Could Not under Any 
circumSTAnces opeN hiS deSk dRawER AnD show a visitor ONE of tHe 40 Long-terM 
coNtracts SigNed By tHe DwR This month With geneRaToRs. 
sEeKInG ACCesS TO CONTrAcTS
acCesS to thE ContraCts, inVolvInG aBOut $40 Billion IN pUBLic fUnDs, Has 
bEen SoUght bY lawMAkeRs, consuMer groups And A NumbEr Of Media 
orGanizations, inClUding The ChRoNicLe. 
In reSPOnse, the gOvernor's office has insistED that diSclOsure Of spEcific 
conTraCt termS woULd jeopArdize The DWr's BarGAIning POSiTioN aNd thus be 
coNTRarY to "puBlIc inTerest." 
"IF I let you see them, I woULd hAve to let everyOne See tHEM," PAteL SaID. 
He DiD AckNOWledge, though, thaT the contraCtS CoNtain so mucH LegAl 
GobbledYgook thAt "you PRobably Would not uNderstand ThEm in ANY caSe." 
It's HanniGan, as heaD of the
 Wildlife Service and theNational W eathe r S erv ic e. Theso-called Join t  Ope rations Center occupie s a r en o vate d  d epart ment st o re inan  o the rw i se  mund ane  Sacram ento shopp ing  m all. 
DWR wo r ke rs deliber ate ly ask repor ter s notto  sa y  wher e e xactl y thef acilit y 
is loc at e d. The y 're con c e rn ed t hat disgruntled c o ns u mers will vent  their  f ru s t rat ion  over high  e nergy pricesb ya t t ack i ng the buildi ng, as them anwho 
r am med a truc k int ot hestate Capit ol i n January  alleg e dly did .  
The m akeshi ft"Gr id O p er at ion sC ent e r, " w h ere  power i sno w bei ng p u r c h ased , is t ucked  away behinda l ocke d  do or on  thethir dfloor . Sonn y Fon g,  the DWR's 
eme rgen cy prepar edn es s m an ager, watche d n erv ously a s a rec e ntvi s i t or  cast 
his eyes ov er t he  whitebo ards o n  t he room's w al ls.  
Th e board s li s tall thepowerc om pa nies wi th  which  t heDWR  is t r adin g andthe 
pri ces t h at each is cha r ging Californ i af o re lect ric ity. 
"Don' t wr i te a ny o f  t hat down, " Fon ga dm o nished. "It's secre tinform ation . We 
can't l et any oft h a t get ou t."Ke e ping a lid onits a ctivitiesh as becom e a f ull-time  job fort h e DWR. F or
ex amp le, F on g adamantly r e f uses  t o allow  an yone to  sp eak  wi thth e 
depart ment's t ra de rs ,eve n dur i ng break sinth e a ction .  
"IfI let  you  d oi t,"  he sai d ," I 'd h av eto l etev eryon e do it. " 
Simi larly, Pa tel ,  the  p ow er syst ems manager,sa id he coul dnot  under a ny 
circ umstances open his desk drawerand  show  a v isitor on e o f the40l ong-te rm 
co ntrac ts  si g n ed by t he  DW Rthis month w ith  gene ra tors . 
SEEK ING ACCESS TO CONT R ACT S
Access to t hecont r a ct s,i nv o lvi ng abo u t  $40 billion in  public fu nd s ,has 
beens oug ht  by law makers,  cons u mer gro ups and a  number o fmedi a 
or ganization s, inclu ding TheC hroni c le . 
In  re sponse ,the  gove rnor's off ice h as ins is ted th at di sc losure o f specific 
contract te rms wo uld j eop ardize th e D W R's  bargaini ng p osition an d t hus  be con t raryto " p ub lic inter est. "  
"If I l e tyou s ee  them, I wo u l d  ha ve to  le t  every onesee them," Patels aid. 
He did a ckno w l edg e,t houg h,  that the cont rac ts c ontain s omuch legal
gobbled yg o ok th at "yo u prob ably wo u l dn ot und erst and  them inany  c a se." 
I t' sH anniga n, a shead o f the
 Wildlife_Service and_the National Weather Service._
The so-called_Joint_Operations Center_occupies_a renovated department_store 
in an_otherwise mundane Sacramento shopping_mall. 
DWR workers_deliberately_ask reporters not to say where exactly the facility 
is located. They're concerned that_disgruntled_consumers will_vent_their_
frustration over high energy prices_by attacking the building, as_the man_who 
rammed a truck into the state Capitol_in_January allegedly did._
The makeshift "Grid Operations Center," where power is now_being purchased, 
is tucked away behind_a locked door_on_the_third floor. Sonny Fong,_the DWR's 
emergency preparedness manager, watched_nervously as a recent visitor cast_
his eyes over the whiteboards on the_room's walls. 
The boards list all_the power companies with which_the DWR_is trading and the 
prices_that each is_charging California_for electricity. 
"Don't_write any of that down," Fong_admonished. "It's secret_information. We 
can't let any of_that_get out." 
Keeping_a_lid_on its_activities has become_a_full-time job_for_the DWR. For 
example, Fong adamantly_refuses_to allow anyone to speak with the_
department's traders, even during_breaks_in the action. 
"If_I let you do it,"_he said, "I'd have to let_everyone do_it." 
Similarly,_Patel, the power systems manager, said he could not under any_
circumstances open his desk drawer and_show a visitor one_of the_40_long-term 
contracts signed_by_the DWR_this month with generators. 
SEEKING ACCESS TO_CONTRACTS
Access to_the contracts, involving about $40 billion_in public funds, has_
been_sought by lawmakers, consumer groups and_a number of media 
organizations, including_The Chronicle. 
In response, the_governor's_office_has insisted that disclosure of_specific 
contract terms would jeopardize the_DWR's bargaining position_and thus be 
contrary to "public interest."_
"If_I let you see them, I_would_have to let everyone see them,"_Patel_said._
He did acknowledge, though, that_the contracts contain so much legal_
gobbledygook that "you probably would not understand them in_any case." 
It's_Hannigan, as head of the