 simple compared with the California power shortage. Then, the 
problem was a lack of imported oil and the chief symptom was long lines and 
high prices at gas stations. Politicians urged conservation: Turn down the 
heat, drive fewer miles, buy more efficient cars. People understood the cause 
of the crisis and the benefit of their actions. Today it's a different story 
and a damnably complicated one that gives consumers no place--or actually, 
too many places--to focus their anger. 
?????The last two days of rolling blackouts, including previously exempt 
Southern California, have not reduced power demand, or at least not enough. 
Consumers are suspicious: Are out-of-state power companies holding back 
production? Did utilities really not have enough money to pay alternative 
energy producers--the little guys who, combined, could produce enough power 
to prevent the blackouts? And what happened to long-term power contracts, the 
state-bargained deal that was supposed to stabilize the crisis? 
?????The frustrations are vast, and there are too many gaps in the story. If 
it's just a pack of thieves creating an artificial shortage, as even some 
consumer organizations charge, why should anyone sacrifice to conserve? That, 
in a nutshell, is the problem that Gov. Gray Davis, the state Legislature and 
the Public Utilities Commission face. 
?????Davis, for one, has to level with the public and stop acting as if he 
can fix the crisis. He has proved he can't, at least not without reductions 
in usage and, most likely, rate increases. If Davis, who is notoriously 
averse to delivering bad news, had leveled with the public about the 
fragility of the current system, the last two days of blackouts statewide 
(except in places with full municipal power, like Los Angeles) might not have 
come as such a shock. 
?????The Legislature tried and failed earlier to solve the alternative energy 
producers' nonpayment problems with a very complicated bill. Tuesday night, 
Davis and legislators announced a simpler plan that would set lower, more 
flexible rates for alternative power but also force the utilities to pay for 
future purchases. 
?????Which leads to the utilities themselves. With the state shelling out 
bill
simple compared with the California power shortage. Then, the 
 trouble was a lack of spell oil and the chief symptom was long line and 
 gamey prices at gas post. politician urged conservation: Turn down the 
 heat, drive few miles, buy more efficient cars. citizenry understood the cause 
 of the crisis and the benefit of their actions. Today it's a different story 
 and a damned complicated one that gives consumers no stead -- or actually, 
 too many places -- to concentrate their anger. 
? ?? ?? The concluding two days of rolling blackouts, including previously exempt 
 Southern California, have not reduce power demand, or at least not enough. 
 Consumers are suspicious: Are away - of - state of matter power companies holding back 
 production? Did utilities really not have enough money to pay alternate 
 department of energy producers -- the little guys who, compound, could produce enough power 
 to prevent the blackout? And what happen to long - term baron contracts, the 
 state - bargained deal that was supposed to brace the crisis? 
? ?? ?? The frustrations are vast, and there are too many gaps in the story. If 
 it's just a battalion of thieves creating an artificial shortage, as even some 
 consumer organizations charge, why should anyone sacrifice to conserve? That, 
 in a nutshell, is the trouble that Gov. Gray Davis, the state Legislature and 
 the Public Utilities Commission face. 
? ?? ?? Davis, for one, has to level with the public and stop acting as if he 
 can fix the crisis. He has proved he can't, at least not without reduction 
 in usage and, most probable, rate increases. If Davis, who is notoriously 
 averse to delivering regretful news, had leveled with the populace about the 
 fragility of the current system, the last two days of blackouts statewide 
 (except in places with entire municipal power, like Los Angeles) might not have 
 issue forth as such a shock. 
? ?? ?? The Legislature tried and failed earlier to solve the alternate energy 
 producers' default problems with a very complicated bill. Tuesday night, 
 Davis and legislators announced a simpler plan that would typeset lower, more 
 flexible rates for alternative power but also coerce the utility to give for 
 future purchases. 
? ?? ?? Which leads to the utilities themselves. With the state shelling out 
 bill
 silple compared with the Cxlifornia power shortaje. Then, the 
proclem was a lack of imported lio and the chief symptom was long linvs and 
hith pcices at gas stavjons. Politicizks uryev conservation: Jurn down tha 
heat, drive fawdr miles, buy more efficient cars. Peopje undetshood the cause 
of uhe criaps and the benefit of their actjons. Tovay it's a diffetent story 
and a damnably fomppicated one that glves consumgds gi place--or acgually, 
too many places--jo focus their anger. 
?????The last twu dayx of rollibg blwwkouts, inclnding ireviously exckpt 
Sogthern Valifornia, havc not reeuced power demand, or at least not enoudh. 
Consumara are suspicious: Qrw out-mf-stdte oiwef ckm'anjes hopdiig back 
prosuction? Did utilities really npt yave enough mkney tj [ay alternative 
energy producers--the litule ghys who, combined, could produce enough power 
jo prevent the blackouts? And what happened to long-term powes convrxctw, bhe 
rrahe-bargained deal that was supposed to stabiliss uhe crisis? 
?????The frmstrations are vasy, wnc there are tou many gals in the story. If 
it's juft a pack of trievrs creating an artificial syortage, as enen wome 
consumer orgauizations chcrge, wny shpuld anyone sacrifice tu cohserve? That, 
in a nutafell, is the probuem tvat Gov. Gray Davis, the staee Legisleture and 
thd Punlic Ueilities Clmmission face. 
?????Davis, for one, kas tm level wihh the public and stop acting as if he 
can fic dhe crisis. Ke has proved he cag't, at least noj without reduztions 
in lsage and, most likelr, rate increavgs. If Davis, wio is notjrioysly 
averse go delivering nad news, kcd levelee with the public ebouj fhe 
fragility oy uhw current systrm, ghe lwsv two gays of blacnoutr sgstewiae 
(excekc ik puacex with full municipan poser, like Los Angelrs) might nit have 
some as such s shock. 
?????The Legislwture trmed anc fwiled earlier to solve the altsrnative fnevgy 
producers' noniaymgnt problemx with a very complicated bill. Tuesday iight, 
Davis and legislarors announced a sikkler plan thav woulq set lowar, more 
flexible ratws for alternativt power but also force fhe uthlitifs to pay for 
future purchases. 
?????Which leads to the utilities themselves. Wirh the state shelljng put 
bpll
simple compared with the California power shortage. problem a lack imported oil and lines high prices at stations. Politicians urged Turn down the heat, drive fewer buy more efficient cars. People understood the cause of the crisis and the of their actions. Today it's a different story and a damnably complicated one gives no actually, many places--to focus their anger. ?????The last two days of rolling blackouts, including previously exempt Southern have not reduced power demand, or at least enough. Consumers are suspicious: out-of-state power companies holding back Did really not enough to alternative energy producers--the guys who, combined, could produce enough power to prevent the blackouts? And what happened to long-term power the state-bargained was supposed stabilize crisis? frustrations are vast, are too many gaps in the just a pack of thieves creating an artificial as even consumer organizations charge, why should anyone to conserve? That, in a nutshell, is the that Gov. Gray Davis, the state Legislature and the Public Utilities Commission face. ?????Davis, for to level with the and stop acting if can the He has he can't, at least not without reductions in usage and, most rate increases. If Davis, who is notoriously averse to delivering had with the public the fragility of the system, last two days of (except places power, Los might not have come such a shock. ?????The Legislature and failed earlier to nonpayment problems with a very complicated bill. Tuesday Davis and legislators announced a simpler plan would set lower, more flexible rates for alternative power but also force utilities to future purchases. ?????Which leads to the utilities themselves. the state shelling out
 simple compared with the CaliFornia poweR shorTagE. ThEn, The 
pRoblEm was a lack of imPOrteD oil and the chief symptom Was loNg LInes ANd 
High pRices at GAs STAtiOnS. POliTiCIaNs urgEd cOnservaTion: Turn doWn tHe 
Heat, drive fewER mIles, buy morE efFicient cars. PEopLe undeRsTooD The caUse 
Of the Crisis ANd the bEnefit of tHeIR actioNS. Today iT'S A dIffeRent story 
and a damnABlY Complicated one That giVeS CoNSUmeRs nO place--or acTuAlly, 
tOO many plACeS--TO FocUS their anger. 
?????ThE last two dayS Of rOlling BlAckOUts, incLudinG pREviOusly exempt 
soutHern CalifOrnia, hAVe not reDUced powEr demaNd, oR at LeasT NoT eNouGh. 
cOnsUMeRs aRE suSpicious: arE oUt-of-sTate POWER comPanIes hOldinG back 
productiOn? DId utILitIes reAlly nOt haVe EnougH money To pay AlTernative 
energy ProdUcers--the lIttLe GuyS wHo, comBIned, coUld ProDuce enoUgh poweR 
To pReVENT tHe blackouts? And what HaPPEnEd to long-Term poWEr CoNTracts, thE 
sTatE-barGAIned dEal tHAt Was suppoSed to sTAbIlIze the cRiSis? 
?????The FrUstRatIons aRE vasT, and thEre are toO many GAps in the story. IF 
It's just a pack oF ThIEVeS CreaTinG an artificiAl shORtagE, as eVEn SomE 
ConsuMer orGaNIzATions charge, why shoulD aNyone sAcrifIce to conserve? that, 
in a nutSHELl, is the pRoblEM tHAt Gov. Gray Davis, The stAte LegislaTUre and 
thE PublIc UtilitIes CommisSIOn face. 
?????DaVis, For One, Has TO LeVel with the pubLIC and StOp actinG as If he 
can Fix The CriSis. he Has proved He can't, at LeAsT nOt WitHout rEDuctions 
In UsaGe And, Most lIKely, raTe incReasEs. if dAviS, who is nOToRIOuslY 
aVeRse tO deLiVerinG bad NEws, Had leveLed with thE puBLic aBoUt The 
fragIlity of the curReNt system, thE lAst Two dayS OF blackouTs statewide 
(except in placES with fuLl mUniciPal pOwer, like LOs ANgeles) MigHT not haVe 
come As sucH a ShoCK. 
?????the LeGISlAtuRe Tried and faILEd eArlieR tO solVe the alTernative energy 
proDUceRs' nonpayment pRobLems WITh A veRY cOMplIcATed BILl. Tuesday night, 
DAvis and legIsLAtOrs announcED a sImPler plaN that woUld seT Lower, moRe 
flexiblE rates for AlTernATIve Power but alSo force tHe utilitiES to paY FoR 
futuRe pUrchasEs. 
?????whiCh leaDs to thE UtiLitieS themsElVes. WitH the sTaTe shelliNg out 
bill
 simple compared with theCalifornia  powe r s hor ta ge.Then , the 
problem wasa lack of imported oil  andth e  chi e fsympt om wasl on g lin es  a nd
h i gh  pric esat gasstations.Pol it icians urged co nservation : T urn down the  
h eat, d ri vef ewermil es, b uy mor e  effic ient cars .P eopleu ndersto o d  t he c ause 
of the cris i sa nd the benefit  of th ei r  a c t ion s.Today it's  a  diff e rent st o ry a nda  damnably com plicated on e  th at giv es  co n sumers  no p la c e-- or actually , 
t oo many p laces- - to focu s  theiranger.  
? ??? ?The la st  tw od ays of  ro l lin g blacko ut s,  incl udin g p r evio usl y ex empt
Southern Cal ifo rnia ,  ha ve no t red uced  p owerdemand , orat  least not enou gh.
Consumer s a re  su sp iciou s : Areout -of -statepower c o mpa ni e s ho lding back 
produc ti o n ?Did util itiesr ea ll y  not hav eeno ughm o ney t o pa y  a lternati ve 
en e rg yproduce rs --theli ttl e g uys w h o, c ombine d, could  prod u ce enough powe r  
to preventt he b la c kout s?And what ha ppen e d to  lon g -t erm power  cont ra c ts ,  the 
state-bargain ed  dealthatwas supposedto stabili z e the cris is??? ? ??The frustrat ionsare vast,a nd there  aretoo many  gaps int h e story.  If  
i t's  ju s t  a  pack of thie v e s cr ea ting an  ar tificia l s hor tag e,as  even som e 
consu me ror ga niz ation s  charge,  w hysh oul d any o ne sac rific e to  c on s erv e? That ,  i n  a n ut sh ell,  is  t he pr oble m  th at Gov.  Gray Dav is, thest at e Legis lature and 
t he  Public Ut il iti es Com m i ssion fa ce. 
?????Davis, for on e , has t o l evelwith  the publ icand st opa ctingas ifhe 
c an  fi x the c r i si s.He  has prove d hecan't ,at l east no t without reductio n s in usage and,  mo st l i k el y,r at e  in cr e ase s .  If Davis, whois notorio us l y
averse to del iv ering b ad news , had leveled  with the  public a bo ut t h e  
f ragility o f the cu rrent sys t em, t h elasttwo  daysof  bl ackou ts sta t ewi de 
( except  i n plac es wi th  full mu nicipal power, like Los  Angel es) m igh t not hav e c ome  as sucha sh ock. 
???? ?Th e L egisl atu r e tri ed a n dfai l ed ea rlie r  to solve th e a l t er native ener g y 
pr oduce rs' nonpay ment  problems with av ery complicate d bi l l . T ues d ay n ig ht, 
Davis and  le gi s l ators an no unced a sim pler pla nt hat w ould s et low er, mor e 
f l exible  rat esfor alter nat iv e  powerbu ta lso fo rceth e util itiest o pa y for 
future purc hases . 
???? ? Whi ch le ad s to th e  uti lities the mselves. Wi th the  sta te sh ellingou t 
bil l
 simple_compared with_the California power shortage._Then, the_
problem_was a_lack_of imported oil_and the chief_symptom was long lines_and 
high prices_at_gas stations. Politicians urged conservation: Turn down the 
heat, drive fewer miles, buy more_efficient_cars. People_understood_the_cause 
of the crisis and_the benefit of their actions._Today it's_a different story 
and a damnably complicated one_that_gives consumers no_place--or actually, 
too many places--to focus their anger. 
?????The_last two days of rolling blackouts,_including previously exempt_
Southern_California,_have not reduced power_demand, or at least not enough._
Consumers are suspicious: Are out-of-state power_companies holding back 
production? Did utilities really_not have enough money to pay_alternative 
energy producers--the little guys_who, combined,_could produce enough power 
to_prevent the blackouts?_And what_happened to long-term_power contracts, the 
state-bargained deal that_was supposed to_stabilize the crisis? 
?????The frustrations are_vast,_and there are_too_many_gaps in_the story. If_
it's_just a_pack_of thieves creating an artificial shortage,_as_even some 
consumer organizations charge, why should_anyone sacrifice to conserve?_That,_
in a nutshell, is_the problem that Gov. Gray_Davis, the state Legislature and 
the_Public Utilities_Commission face._
?????Davis, for one, has to level with the public and stop_acting as if he 
can fix_the crisis. He has_proved he_can't,_at least not_without_reductions 
in_usage and, most likely, rate increases. If_Davis, who_is notoriously 
averse to delivering bad_news, had leveled with_the_public about the 
fragility of the_current system, the last two days_of blackouts statewide 
(except in_places_with_full municipal power, like Los_Angeles) might not have 
come as_such a shock._
?????The Legislature tried and failed earlier to_solve_the alternative energy 
producers' nonpayment problems_with_a very complicated bill. Tuesday night,_
Davis_and_legislators announced a simpler plan_that would set lower, more 
flexible_rates for alternative power but also force the utilities_to pay for_
future purchases. 
?????Which leads to_the_utilities_themselves. With the state shelling out 
bill