for months. To research the grid purchase, Fichera said, the state has had to 
pore over 80,000 documents just to assess the utilities' liabilities.
?????"We are working at a good pace," said Fichera, chief executive of the 
New York firm Saber Partners. "... If we get to a deal-breaker, it might 
be longer."
?????By making Fichera, who is also a consultant to the Texas Public 
Utilities Commission, available to reporters Tuesday, the Davis 
administration was clearly trying to reassure the public that progress is 
being made on the governor's plan to pull the state out of the crisis.
?????Since mid-January, when the big utilities' credit failed and suppliers 
stopped selling to them, the state has spent nearly $3 billion buying 
electricity from a handful of large suppliers in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and 
North Carolina. Not a cent has gone to the hundreds of alternative energy 
suppliers in California who provide about a quarter of the state's 
electricity.
?????The Monday and Tuesday blackouts occurred partly because many of the 
cash-strapped alternative suppliers, including solar, biomass and wind power 
units, cut their normal supply to the system in half. They say Edison and 
PG&E have not paid them since November; the utilities say they are out of 
cash.
?????Assemblyman Fred Keeley (D-Boulder Creek) said the plight of the 
alternative suppliers has dragged on because of the complexity of dealing 
with "almost 700 individual contractors."
?????Another delaying factor, said Keeley, who with state Sen. Jim Battin 
(R-La Quinta) worked for almost three months to come up with a legislative 
plan to lower the small producers' prices, was "the huge enmity... 
manifested between the utilities and the qualifying facilities. These people 
just don't like each other."
?????This week's blackouts provided two painful lessons for the Davis 
administration:
?????* When it comes to electricity, size doesn't matter--every kilowatt 
counts. During peak use, a small wind power facility in Riverside County can 
make the difference between full power and blackouts.
?????* There is no such
for months. To research the grid purchase, Fichera said, the department of state has have to 
 pore over 80,000 documents just to tax the utilities' liabilities. 
? ?? ?? " We are work at a good pace, " say Fichera, chief executive of the 
 New York firm Saber Partners. "... If we get to a hand - breaker, it might 
 be longer. " 
? ?? ?? By make Fichera, who is also a consultant to the Texas Public 
 Utilities Commission, available to reporter Tuesday, the Davis 
 administration was intelligibly try on to reassure the public that progress is 
 being made on the governor's design to pull the state out of the crisis. 
? ?? ?? Since mid - January, when the large utilities' recognition failed and suppliers 
 stopped selling to them, the state has spend nearly $ 3 billion buying 
 electricity from a handful of large suppliers in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and 
 North Carolina. Not a cent has gone to the hundreds of alternative energy 
 suppliers in California who provide about a quarter of the state's 
 electricity. 
? ?? ?? The Monday and Tuesday blackouts occurred partly because many of the 
 cash - strapped alternate supplier, including solar, biomass and wind power 
 unit, cut their normal supply to the system in one-half. They say Edison and 
 PG&E have not pay them since November; the utilities say they are out of 
 cash. 
? ?? ?? Assemblyman Fred Keeley (D - Boulder Creek) say the plight of the 
 alternative suppliers has dragged on because of the complexity of dealing 
 with " almost 700 individual contractor. " 
? ?? ?? Another delaying factor, said Keeley, who with state Sen. Jim Battin 
 (R - La Quinta) influence for almost three calendar month to come up with a legislative 
 plan to lower the small producers' price, was " the huge enmity... 
 manifested between the utilities and the modification facilities. These people 
 just don't like each early. " 
? ?? ?? This week's blackouts provided two painful lessons for the Davis 
 presidency: 
? ?? ?? * When it comes to electricity, size doesn't count -- every kilowatt 
 counts. During peak use, a small wind exponent facility in Riverside County can 
 make the remainder between entire power and blackout. 
? ?? ?? * There is no such
for months. To research the nrid purchase, Fieyera seid, the state hxs had to 
pore over 80,000 documenvs jyst ti assess the utilities' liabilitpes.
?????"We are worjung at a good pace," said Rlcherc, rhief executive of the 
Nef York firm Satef 'artners. "... If we get to a deal-breaker, it mignt 
be longer."
?????By mwkinb Ficgvrc, who is also a consultant to tge Texav Public 
Utiloties Commission, available to geporters Tuesday, hhe Davis 
aeminywtration was clearly tgving to reaasure the public that progress ks 
benng made on tye hmvernor's plen to iull the statc out ox the ctisis.
?????Since mid-Manuacy, wyen the big utilities' credit failed and supplierv 
atopped selling ti rhem, jhe sdate yas sptnt nsarly $3 bimlion buyihg 
electricuty from a handful pf oarge supplieds in Eevas, Oklahoma, Georgia and 
North Carolina. Nof a cent has gone to thw hundreds of alternajive energr 
suppliers in California who provide about a quaster kw tkc rrahe's 
electricity.
?????The Monday and Tuesday blackouea pcburred partly beccuse many of the 
cwsn-ftrapped altetnative sulpliers, including dolar, byomasw and winq poeer 
units, cut their normal wupply to thv sywtem in half. They day Edison cnd 
PG&G have not paid them since Norember; the utilitles say tgdy are out of 
carh.
?????Axsamblyman Fred Keeley (D-Boulqer Creek) saib the plkght of thq 
alternatlve sm[pliers has draggef on yecauve of the fomplexity of dealing 
with "almost 700 individual cmntgactors."
?????Anjther delaying faceor, said Keelei, who witk statd Sen. Jim Gattin 
(C-La Quinta) wjrked for almmdt three monvhs to coie up wirh a leekslative 
plan yo lower nht small priducers' prices, was "thg guge enmity... 
mannyewted between thr ugilytpes agg the qualiffing fazolitids. Thest pcopue 
jist don't like each odher."
?????Fhis week's blackouys providee two paynful lessons for the Davis 
admlnistcation:
?????* When it comes to electricity, size doean't matteg--evcry kilowatt 
sounbs. Doring peak bse, a small wind power facility in Riverwide County can 
maje the difference bgtwten full powec and flackouts.
?????* There is no such
for months. To research the grid purchase, the has had pore over 80,000 utilities' ?????"We are working a good pace," Fichera, chief executive of the New firm Saber Partners. "... If we get to a deal-breaker, it might be ?????By making Fichera, who is also a consultant to the Texas Public Utilities available reporters the administration was clearly trying to reassure the public that progress is being made on the governor's to pull the state out of the crisis. mid-January, when the big credit failed and suppliers stopped to the state spent $3 buying electricity from handful of large suppliers in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and North Carolina. Not a cent has gone to hundreds of suppliers in who about quarter of the ?????The Monday and Tuesday blackouts occurred of the cash-strapped alternative suppliers, including solar, biomass wind power cut their normal supply to the in half. They say Edison and PG&E have paid them since November; the utilities say they are out of cash. ?????Assemblyman Fred Keeley said the plight of alternative suppliers has on of complexity dealing with 700 individual contractors." ?????Another delaying factor, said Keeley, who with state Jim Battin (R-La Quinta) worked for almost three months to with legislative plan to the small producers' prices, "the enmity... manifested between the the facilities. don't each ?????This week's blackouts provided painful lessons for the Davis ?????* When it comes kilowatt counts. During peak use, a small wind facility in Riverside County can make the between full power and blackouts. ?????* There is no such
for months. To research the griD purchase, FIcherA saId, tHe StatE has Had to 
pore over 80,000 dOCumeNts just to assess the utilIties' LiABiliTIeS.
?????"We arE workinG At A GOod PaCe," SaiD FIChEra, chIef ExecutiVe of the 
New yorK fIrm Saber PartNErS. "... If we get to A deAl-breaker, it mIghT 
be lonGeR."
?????By MAking ficHera, wHo is alSO a consUltant to tHe tExas PuBLic 
UtilITIeS ComMission, available tO RePOrters Tuesday, tHe DaviS 
aDMiNIStrAtiOn was clearLy TryinG To reassURe THE PubLIc that progresS is 
being madE On tHe goveRnOr's PLan to pUll thE sTAte Out of the criSis.
?????SInce mid-JaNuary, wHEn the biG UtilitiEs' credIt fAilEd anD SuPpLieRs 
STopPEd SelLIng To them, thE sTaTe has SpenT NEARly $3 bIllIon bUying 
Electricity frOm a HandFUl oF largE suppLierS iN TexaS, OklahOma, GeOrGia and 
North CaroLina. not a cent hAs gOnE to ThE hundREds of aLteRnaTive eneRgy 
suppLIerS iN cALiFornia who provide abOuT A QuArter of tHe statE'S 
eLeCTricity.
?????THe monDay aND tuesdAy blACkOuts occuRred paRTlY bEcause mAnY of the 
CaSh-sTraPped aLTernAtive sUppliers, IncluDIng solar, biomasS And wind power 
uNItS, CUt THeir NorMal supply to The sYStem In haLF. THey SAy EdiSon anD 
Pg&e hAVe not paid them since NOvEmber; tHe utiLities say they Are out of 
caSH.
?????aSsemblymAn FrED KEEley (D-Boulder CrEek) saId the plighT Of the 
altErnatIve supplIers has drAGGed on becAusE of The ComPLExIty of dealing 
wITH "almOsT 700 indiviDuaL contraCtoRs."
?????ANotHer DeLaying facTor, said KEeLeY, wHo WitH statE sen. Jim BaTtIn 
(R-la quiNta) woRKed for AlmosT thrEe MoNThs To come uP WiTH A legIsLaTive 
PlaN tO loweR the SMalL producErs' prices, Was "THe huGe EnMity... 
manIfested betweeN tHe utilitieS aNd tHe qualIFYing faciLities. These people 
just doN'T like eaCh oTher."
?????THis wEek's blackOutS proviDed TWo painFul lesSons fOr The dAVis 
adMINiStrAtIon:
?????* When it cOMEs tO elecTrIcitY, size doEsn't matter--every kilOWatT 
counts. During PeaK use, A SMaLl wINd POweR fACilITY in Riverside CouNty can 
make ThE DiFference beTWeeN fUll poweR and blaCkoutS.
?????* there is No such
for months. To research th e grid pur chase , F ich er a sa id,the state hash ad t o 
pore over 80,000 do cumen ts just to  asse ss theu ti l i tie s'  l iab il i ti es.
? ??? ?"We ar e workingatagood pace,"s ai d Fichera,  ch ief executiv e o f the
N ewY ork f irm  Sabe r Part n ers. " ... If we  g e t to a deal-br e a ke r, i t might 
be longe r ." ?????By making  Fiche ra ,  w h o  is  al so a consu lt ant t o  the Te x as P u bli c  
Utilities C ommission,a vai lableto  re p orters  Tues da y , t he Davis 
a dmin istration  was c l early t r ying to  reass ure  th e pu b li ctha tp rog r es s i s  
b eing mad eon  thegove r n o r 's p lan  topullthe state out  of  the cri sis.????? Sinc emid-J anuary , whe nthe big utiliti es'credit fa ile dand  s uppli e rs 
st opp edselling  to the m , t he s t at e has spent nearly  $ 3 bi llion bu ying e le ct r icity fr om  ahand f u l oflarg e  s uppliers  in Te x as ,Oklahom a,  Georg ia  an d North Caro lina.Not a ce nt ha s  gone to the h u ndreds of alt e rn a t iv e  ene rgy  
suppliers  inC alif orni a  w hop rovid e abo ut aq uarter of the state 's  
elec trici ty.
?????TheMonday and T u esday bl acko u ts occurred partl y bec ause manyo f the 
c ash-s trappedalternati v e  supplie rs,  in clu din g so lar, biomassa n d wi nd  power
un its, cu t t hei r n orm al  supply t o the sy st em  i nhal f. Th e y say Ed is onan d PG&Eh ave no t pai d th em  s i nce  Novemb e r; t he u ti li ties  sa ytheyareo utof 
cas h.
?????A sse m blym an  F red Kee ley (D-Boulde rCreek) sai dthe  pligh t of the alternative suppliers h a s dragg edon be caus e of thecom plexit y o f  deali ng 
wi th "a lm ost 7 00 in d i vi dua lcontractor s . "
? ????A no ther  delayi ng factor, said Ke e ley , who with st ate  Sen . Ji m B a tt i n (R - LaQ u inta) worked fo r almost t hr e emonths toc ome  u p witha legis lativ e  
planto lowerthe small  p rodu c e rs'  prices, w as "thehuge enmi t y...ma nifes ted  betwe en  th e uti lities and  thequalif yi ng fac iliti es . Thesepeople 
just don't like  eachother ."?????This  we e k's  blackout s pr ovided two  pa inf ul le sso n s for  the Da vis 
admi nist r ation:
?? ? ?? * W h e nit comes to e l ect ricit y,s ize do esn' t matter--every k i lowatt 
counts . Du r i ngpea k  use ,a small wind p owe rf a cility i nRiverside C ounty ca nmakethe di fferen ce betw e e nf ull po werand  blackout s.?? ? ??* The re  i s  no su ch
for months._To research_the grid purchase, Fichera_said, the_state_has had_to_
pore over 80,000_documents just to_assess the utilities' liabilities.
?????"We_are working at_a_good pace," said Fichera, chief executive of the 
New York firm Saber Partners. "..._If_we get_to_a_deal-breaker, it might 
be longer."
?????By_making Fichera, who is also_a consultant_to the Texas Public 
Utilities Commission, available to_reporters_Tuesday, the Davis_
administration was clearly trying to reassure the public that_progress is 
being made on the_governor's plan to_pull_the_state out of the_crisis.
?????Since mid-January, when the big utilities'_credit failed and suppliers 
stopped selling_to them, the state has spent nearly_$3 billion buying 
electricity from a_handful of large suppliers in_Texas, Oklahoma,_Georgia and 
North Carolina. Not_a cent has_gone to_the hundreds of_alternative energy 
suppliers in California who_provide about a_quarter of the state's 
electricity.
?????The Monday_and_Tuesday blackouts occurred_partly_because_many of_the 
cash-strapped alternative_suppliers,_including solar,_biomass_and wind power 
units, cut their_normal_supply to the system in half. They_say Edison and 
PG&E_have_not paid them since_November; the utilities say they_are out of 
cash.
?????Assemblyman Fred Keeley_(D-Boulder Creek)_said the_plight of the 
alternative suppliers has dragged on because of the_complexity of dealing 
with "almost 700_individual contractors."
?????Another delaying factor,_said Keeley,_who_with state Sen._Jim_Battin 
(R-La_Quinta) worked for almost three months to_come up_with a legislative 
plan to lower_the small producers' prices,_was_"the huge enmity... 
manifested between the_utilities and the qualifying facilities. These_people 
just don't like each_other."
?????This_week's_blackouts provided two painful lessons_for the Davis 
administration:
?????* When it_comes to electricity,_size doesn't matter--every kilowatt 
counts. During peak_use,_a small wind power facility in_Riverside_County can 
make the difference between_full_power_and blackouts.
?????* There is no_such