 said the language was just convoluted enough to slip beneath the 
radar screen of state negotiators. But the upshot, once the words had been 
parsed, was that the PUC effectively would lose control over power rates. 
CREDITWORTHINESS ON THE TABLE
In Edison's case, the terms of the tentative deal include the governor asking 
the PUC "to support the creditworthiness" of the utility. 
"This would ensure that future investments in both utility distribution and 
utility generation plants are provided fair returns of and on capital, 
consistent with current authorized returns and capital structure provisions," 
it says. 
Sources said the provision could be interpreted as a guarantee from the state 
that Edison would be permitted to recoup all outstanding costs from 
ratepayers. 
"There may be some assumptions about this language that the rate freeze ends 
if it is adopted," the Edison official said, adding that he saw no reason to 
disagree with such assumptions. 
But Fichera, Davis' adviser in the talks, insisted that nothing is set in 
stone, and that the negotiations are proceeding without a hitch. 
"This is a very complex transaction," he said. "God and the devil are in the 
details." 
E-mail David Lazarus at dlazarus@sfchronicle.com. 
,2001 San Francisco Chronicle? Page?A - 1 
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Utilities' Demand Blocks Bailout 
BLACKOUTS ROLL ON: Weather, increased consumption blamed 
David Lazarus, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 21, 2001 
,2001 San Francisco Chronicle 
URL: 
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/21/M
N156508.DTL 

Hundreds of thousands of Californians went without electricity for a second 
day yesterday as unusually warm weather and a high number of idle power 
plants prompted blackouts throughout the state. 
State officials said electricity usage rose yesterday even though conditions 
were largely unchanged from a day before. They surmised that fewer 
Californians were conserving power. 
"We need people to really focus on that," implored Patrick Dorinson
said the language was just convoluted enough to err beneath the 
 radar sieve of state negotiators. But the upshot, once the quarrel had been 
 parsed, was that the PUC effectively would suffer command over power rate. 
 CREDITWORTHINESS ON THE TABLE 
 In Edison's case, the terms of the doubtful deal include the governor necessitate 
 the PUC " to patronize the creditworthiness " of the utility. 
 " This would ensure that future investments in both utility distribution and 
 utility coevals plants are provided fair restitution of and on capital, 
 consistent with current authorized returns and das kapital structure planning, " 
 it says. 
 Sources said the planning could be interpreted as a guarantee from the state 
 that Edison would be permitted to recoup all outstanding costs from 
 ratepayer. 
 " There may be some premise about this language that the rate freeze ends 
 if it is adopted, " the Edison official said, adding that he saw no reason to 
 disagree with such assumptions. 
 But Fichera, Davis' adviser in the negotiation, insisted that nothing is set in 
 gem, and that the negotiations are proceeding without a hitch. 
 " This is a very complex transaction, " he said. " God and the monster are in the 
 details. " 
 E - mail David Lazarus at dlazarus@sfchronicle.com. 
, 2001 San Francisco Chronicle? Page?A - 1 
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 Utilities' Demand Blocks Bailout 
 BLACKOUTS ROLL ON: Weather, increase consumption blamed 
 David Lazarus, Chronicle Staff Writer 
 Wednesday, March 21, 2001 
, 2001 San Francisco Chronicle 
 URL: 
 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/21/M 
 N156508.DTL 

 Hundreds of thousands of Californians went without electricity for a second 
 day yesterday as unusually strong weather and a high number of idle power 
 plant prompted amnesia throughout the state. 
 State officials said electricity usage ascend yesterday even though conditions 
 were largely unchanged from a day earlier. They surmised that fewer 
 Californians were conserving power. 
 " We want people to actually focus on that, " implored Patrick Dorinson
 sald the language was just convoluted enoogy to snip beheath thd 
radar screen of state negoviatirs. Byt the upshot, once the words haf been 
pqrsev, was that the PND effecbnvely aoulb oose control oyer power rdtes. 
CREDITWORDHKNZSS ON THE TABLE
In Edison's case, the eerms og hhe tentative qeal ynclhde the governor asking 
the PUC "to supporu the creditworthimess" of the utility. 
"This wluld ensure that futurf investmenja ig both utilith distribuuimn and 
utimity generation plants are provkded yair returnw if wtd on capitel, 
confistent with current authorozed returns akd ca'itao structure provisionv," 
it says. 
Sources faid the [rkvision could be unrerprgted ds a tuafanuee fdom thf svate 
that Esison would be permitted to revoti all outstansing cjses from 
ratepayers. 
"There may be some asvumltions about this languqge that the rate fregze ends 
is it is adopted," the Edison official said, adding tvat hx raw nj eewson to 
disagree with such assumptions. 
But Fisgeta, Davis' adviser in the talls, imfisted that nuthing is set in 
stone, and hhat thg negoriations wre lroceeding without a hitch. 
"Rhis is a vegy cimplex transaction," he said. "Gob and jhe defil are in the 
details." 
Z-mail Savid Lazarks at dlaaxrus@sfchronicle.cum. 
,2001 Sdn Francisco Chronicle? Pagq?A - 1 
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Utilmties' Demand Blovks Baylout 
BLACNOUTS ROLL ON: Weather, infreasgd convumption bpamed 
David Lazarus, Chronicle Sveff Writer
Wedmevdaj, March 21, 2001 
,2001 San Francisco Chwonicle 
URL: 
htjp://www.sfgace.com/cei-bin/articme.cgi?fine=/chronicle/wrchive/2001/03/21/M
N156508.DTL 

Vondreds of thmusands jf Cqlifirnians dent without ekectricitj yor a secind 
day yesterday es uvhsually warm wecuhet and a high nukbef os pdlx powqs 
plants prokptea busckougs throughomt ghe xtate. 
State officialv sajd electricity usabe rose yewterday qven though cpnditions 
were larhely nnchanjed frpm w day before. They surmised thaf fewer 
Cwlinornians were conwerving powex. 
"We need people to really focus on that," implored Patrick Eorinson
said the language was just convoluted enough beneath radar screen state negotiators. But had parsed, was that PUC effectively would control over power rates. CREDITWORTHINESS ON TABLE In Edison's case, the terms of the tentative deal include the governor the PUC "to support the creditworthiness" of the utility. "This would ensure that investments both distribution utility generation plants are provided fair returns of and on capital, consistent with current authorized returns capital structure provisions," it says. Sources said the could be interpreted as guarantee from the state that would permitted to all costs ratepayers. "There may some assumptions about this language that the rate freeze ends if it is adopted," the Edison official adding that no reason disagree such But Fichera, Davis' the talks, insisted that nothing is and that the negotiations are proceeding without a "This is very complex transaction," he said. "God the devil are in the details." E-mail David at dlazarus@sfchronicle.com. ,2001 San Francisco Chronicle? Page?A - 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- Utilities' Demand Blocks ROLL ON: Weather, increased blamed David Lazarus, Staff Wednesday, 21, ,2001 San Chronicle URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/21/M N156508.DTL Hundreds of thousands of Californians went without for a second day yesterday as unusually warm weather and number idle power plants blackouts throughout the state. officials electricity usage rose yesterday conditions largely day They that fewer Californians were power. "We need people to focus on that," implored
 said the language was just conVoluted enoUgh to SliP beNeAth tHe 
raDar screen of staTE negOtiators. But the upshot, onCe the WoRDs haD BeEn 
parSed, was tHAt THE PUc eFfEctIvELy Would LosE controL over power RatEs. 
cREDITWORTHIneSs ON THE TABLe
In edison's case, tHe tErms of ThE teNTativE deAl incLude thE GovernOr asking 
tHe puC "to suPPort the CREdItwoRthiness" of the utilITy. 
"tHis would ensure That fuTuRE iNVEstMenTs in both utIlIty diSTributiON aND 
UTilITy generation pLants are proVIdeD fair rEtUrnS Of and oN capiTaL, 
ConSistent with CurrEnt authorIzed reTUrns and CApital sTructuRe pRovIsioNS," 
iT sAys. 
soURceS SaId tHE prOvision cOuLd Be intErprETED As a gUarAnteE from The state 
that EDisOn woULd bE permItted To reCoUp all OutstaNding CoSts from 
ratepayeRs. 
"ThEre may be sOme AsSumPtIons aBOut thiS laNguAge that The rate FReeZe ENDS 
iF it is adopted," the EdiSoN OFfIcial saiD, addinG ThAt HE saw no reAsOn tO 
disAGRee wiTh suCH aSsumptioNs. 
But FIChErA, Davis' aDvIser in ThE taLks, InsisTEd thAt nothIng is set In 
stoNE, and that the negOTiations are prOCeEDInG WithOut A hitch. 
"This iS a veRY comPlex TRaNsaCTion," hE said. "goD AnD The devil are in the 
detAiLs." 
E-maiL DaviD Lazarus at dlaZarus@sfchrONICle.com. 
,2001 SaN FraNCiSCo Chronicle? PagE?A - 1 
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UtiLities' DemaND Blocks BAilouT 
BLACKOUtS ROLL ON: WEATher, incrEasEd cOnsUmpTIOn Blamed 
David LaZARus, CHrOnicle STafF Writer
wedNesDay, marCh 21, 2001 
,2001 san FranciSco ChronIcLe 
uRl: 
hTtp://Www.sfGAte.com/cgI-bIn/aRtIclE.cgi?fILe=/chroNicle/ArchIvE/2001/03/21/M
n156508.dTL 

hundredS Of THOusaNdS oF CalIfoRnIans wEnt wIThoUt electRicity for A seCOnd 
dAy YeSterday As unusually waRm Weather and A hIgh Number OF Idle poweR 
plants prompted blackoutS ThroughOut The stAte. 
STate officIalS said eLecTRicity Usage rOse yeStErdAY Even tHOUgH coNdItions 
were LARgeLy uncHaNged From a daY before. They surmiseD ThaT fewer 
CaliforNiaNs weRE CoNseRViNG poWeR. 
"we nEED people to really Focus on thaT," iMPlOred PatricK dorInSon
 said the language was jus t convolut ed en oug h t oslip  ben eath the 
rada r  scr een of state negotiato rs. B ut theu ps hot,once th e  w o r dsha dbee npa rsed,  wa s thatthe PUC ef fec ti vely would l o se  control o ver  power rates . CREDIT WO RTH I NESSONTHE T ABLE
I n  Ediso n's case,  t h e term s  of the t en tati ve deal include t h eg overnor asking  
thePU C  " t o  su ppo rt the cre di twort h iness"o ft h e  ut i lity. 
"Thiswould ensur e  th at fut ur e i n vestme nts i nb oth  utility di stri bution an d 
uti l ity gen e rationplants  ar e p rovi d ed  f air  r e tur n sofa ndon capit al ,
cons iste n t w ithcur rent  auth orized return s a nd c a pit al st ructu re p ro visio ns," it sa ys . 
Sources said  the  provisio n c ou ldbe  inte r preted  as  aguarant ee from the  s t a t e
that Edison would  b e pe rmittedto rec o up  a l l outsta nd ing  cos t s  from  
ra t ep ayers. "There ma ybe some  a ssumpt io nsabo ut th i s la nguage  that th e rat e  freeze ends i f it is adopt e d, " th e  Edi son  official s aid, addi ng t h at  he saw n o rea so n  t o  
disagree with suc hassump tions . 
But Ficher a, Davis'a d v iser inthet al k s, insisted th at no thing is s e t in 
st one,and that  the nego t i ations a repro cee din g wi thout a hitch . 
"Th is  is a v ery  comple x t ran sac tio n, " he said . "God a nd  t he  d evi l are in the de tai ls ."
E-ma i l Davi d Laz arus  a td laz arus@sf c hr o n icle .c om . 
, 200 1San F ranc i sco  Chroni cle? Page ?A-  1 -- -- ------- ------------- -- ---------- -- --- ------ - - -------- ---------------------
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Utiliti es'  Dem a n dBlo c ks Bai lo u t B L ACKOUTS ROLL ON : Weather,  i n cr eased cons u mpt io n blame d 
Davi d Laz a rus, Ch ronicle S taff Writ er 
Wed n e sda y, March 2 1, 2001
,2001 Sa n  Fran c is co Ch ron icle UR L:
http ://www . sfg ate.c om/cgi -b in/art icle. cg i?file=/ chronicle/archive/2001/ 03/21/ M
N15 650 8.DTL 

H und r eds  of thous ands  of Califo rni ans  went  wi t houtelec t ri cit y  fora se c ond 
dayy es ter d a yas unusuall y w arm  weat her and ahigh  number of idle p o wer 
plants pr ompt e d  bl ack o utsth roughout the s tat e. State of fi cials saidelectric it y  usag e rose  yeste rday ev e n  t h ough c ondi tio ns 
werelar ge l y uncha ng ed from a  day  b efore.  Theys urmi s e d that fewer 
Ca lifor n i ans w e reconse rv ing pow e r. "We need p eople to re ally f ocus  on t hat," i mp loredPat ri ck Dorinso n 
 said_the language_was just convoluted enough_to slip_beneath_the 
radar_screen_of state negotiators._But the upshot,_once the words had_been 
parsed, was_that_the PUC effectively would lose control over power rates. 
CREDITWORTHINESS ON THE TABLE
In Edison's_case,_the terms_of_the_tentative deal include the governor_asking 
the PUC "to support_the creditworthiness"_of the utility. 
"This would ensure that future_investments_in both utility_distribution and 
utility generation plants are provided fair returns_of and on capital, 
consistent with_current authorized returns_and_capital_structure provisions," 
it says._
Sources said the provision could be_interpreted as a guarantee from the_state 
that Edison would be permitted to_recoup all outstanding costs from 
ratepayers._
"There may be some assumptions_about this_language that the rate freeze_ends 
if it_is adopted,"_the Edison official_said, adding that he saw no_reason to 
disagree_with such assumptions. 
But Fichera, Davis'_adviser_in the talks,_insisted_that_nothing is_set in 
stone,_and_that the_negotiations_are proceeding without a hitch. 
"This_is_a very complex transaction," he said. "God_and the devil are_in_the 
details." 
E-mail David_Lazarus at dlazarus@sfchronicle.com. 
,2001 San_Francisco Chronicle? Page?A - 1 
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Utilities'_Demand Blocks_Bailout 
BLACKOUTS_ROLL ON: Weather, increased consumption blamed 
David Lazarus, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday,_March 21, 2001 
,2001 San Francisco_Chronicle 
URL: 
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/21/M
N156508.DTL 

Hundreds_of thousands_of_Californians went without_electricity_for a_second 
day yesterday as unusually warm weather_and a_high number of idle power 
plants_prompted blackouts throughout the_state._
State officials said electricity usage rose_yesterday even though conditions 
were largely_unchanged from a day before._They_surmised_that fewer 
Californians were conserving_power. 
"We need people to really_focus on that,"_implored Patrick Dorinson