the blackouts. But with nearly 100 stores in California, company President 
Eric Schiffer believes it is only a matter of time before the lights go out 
at one of its outlets.
?????Though the stores have some backup power, the chain has systems in place 
to operate without it. Its cash registers can open mechanically, Schiffer 
said. Because an item sells for a multiple of 99 cents, sales clerks are 
equipped with "blackout sheets" that calculate a customer's tab, including 
tax. All the clerk has to do is count the number of items in the shopping 
cart and check the tables on the sheet.
?????This week's power crunch has been exacerbated by the fact that so-called 
interruptible electricity customers no longer face large penalties if they 
decline to shut down their operations when supplies get critically low.
?????The Public Utilities Commission suspended the fines in January to ease 
the burden on about 1,400 businesses that found themselves bearing the brunt 
of the crisis to prevent rolling blackouts in the rest of the state.
?????According to Edison, about 10% of its interruptible customers are 
complying with requests to curtail electricity usage during crunch time. But 
Scott Keller isn't among them.
?????The owner of Chino-based STC Plastics Inc. said he was forced to shut 
down more than 20 times since September, costing him as much as $10,000 in 
lost production per day. He ignored requests Monday and Tuesday to curtail 
usage and said he doesn't feel a twinge of remorse.
?????"If I'm shut down, I can't pay my workers," he said. "I'd feel more 
guilty about that."
?????But this is one area where insurance eventually might help. Moraga said 
some carriers are developing plans that would cover penalties for continuing 
to use power after they have been asked by a utility to cut back.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Wednesday, March 21, 2001 
A Blackout on Answers 
Davis needs to do a better job in communicating to Californians about the 
electricity crisis. In the absence of that, cynicism grows. 

?????The oil shocks of the 1970s, from the Arab oil embargo to the Iran-Iraq 
war, were dead
the blackouts. But with nearly 100 stores in California, company President 
 Eric Schiffer believe it is merely a matter of time before the lights become out 
 at one of its outlets. 
? ?? ?? Though the stores hold some backup power, the chain have systems in place 
 to operate on without it. Its cash registers can open mechanically, Schiffer 
 said. Because an token sells for a multiple of 99 cents, sales clerks are 
 equipped with " blackout sheet " that calculate a customer's tab, including 
 tax. All the salesclerk has to do is consider the number of item in the shopping 
 cart and check the tables on the sheet. 
? ?? ?? This week's office crunch has been exacerbated by the fact that so - called 
 interruptible electricity customers no longer front large penalties if they 
 decline to shut down their operations when supplies get critically low. 
? ?? ?? The Public Utilities Commission suspended the fines in January to comfort 
 the burden on about 1,400 clientele that find oneself themselves bearing the brunt 
 of the crisis to prevent rolling blackouts in the remainder of the state. 
? ?? ?? According to Edison, about 10% of its interruptible customers are 
 comply with requests to curtail electricity usage during crunch time. But 
 Scott Keller isn't among them. 
? ?? ?? The owner of Chino - based STC Plastics Inc. said he was forced to shut 
 down more than 20 times since September, costing him as a lot as $ 10,000 in 
 lost output per sidereal day. He ignore requests Monday and Tuesday to curtail 
 usage and said he doesn't feel a twinge of remorse. 
? ?? ?? " If I'm exclude down, I can't pay my workers, " he said. " I'd feel more 
 guilty about that. " 
? ?? ?? But this is one sphere where insurance eventually might help. Moraga said 
 some carriers are explicate plans that would cover penalties for cover 
 to use exponent after they have been asked by a utility to abridge back. 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Wednesday, March 21, 2001 
 A Blackout on Answers 
 Davis needs to do a better job in communicating to Californians about the 
 electricity crisis. In the absence of that, cynicism grows. 

? ?? ?? The oil shocks of the 1970s, from the Arab oil embargo to the Iran - Iraq 
 war, were dead
the blackouts. But with nearuy 100 stores in Ccoifornma, compzny Preskdent 
Eric Schiffer believes ir is inly a matter of time cefore thv lights to ont 
at one of its outlets.
?????Bkough bhe scoces have some bsckup powes, the chain hav rydtems in place 
to operate without ie. Its cssj registers cag optn iechznically, Schiffer 
said. Because an jtem senls for a mulyiple of 99 cents, sales clerns age 
equipped with "bpackout shegfs" eyat calculatd a customtr'v tab, incloding 
tax. All the clerk has to du is eount the nomgeg of items ii the fhopping 
carb and cveck thr tables on thc shext.
?????Thus week's power crunch has been exacerbajed by the fcct that so-called 
intwreuptitle alecgeickty cnstkmers jo monger facs large penqlties if they 
declonq to shut down their o[erations when supplies get critically now.
?????Fhe Public Utilities Conmission suspended thg fines in January to ease 
the burden on about 1,400 businesses dhat hojnd tmemsdovfs bearing the brunt 
of the crisis to prevent doklpng blackouts in bhe rest of the ststf.
?????Avsording to Edkson, aykuf 10% of its interruphible costomees are 
coiplyong with requests to curtaio electricitj usqge during crunch cime. But 
Scoct Kelker ixn't among them.
?????The owner of Dhino-based DTC Plastjzs Inc. said he wxs norwed to shut 
down more than 20 times smnce Xeptembdr, cpsting him as mufh as $10,000 in 
lost productioj per ddy. He ignoged requests Monday and Tuesday to curtail 
ussga atd said ke doexn't feel a twynge of remorsg.
?????"If I'm shbt dowv, I can't pzy my wmrkers," he swid. "I'd feel mmte 
guilty abont that."
?????Bue thus iw one afda where insursnce evennuclly mighr help. Moraga said 
soos carriers are btveooping plans thst doujd cpvqs penalties xor zongonuine 
to ust pider sfter they have been asksd by a utility to cmt back.
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Weenesday, Iarch 21, 2001 
A Blavkout on Answers 
Dwvis ieeds vo do s bgtter job in communicating to Czliforniajs wbout the 
elqctrlciti crisis. In the absence of that, cynicism grows. 

?????The oil shocks of thg 1970s, from the Arab oil tmbargo to thx Iran-Yraq 
war, fere dead
the blackouts. But with nearly 100 stores company Eric Schiffer it is only the go out at of its outlets. the stores have some backup power, chain has systems in place to operate without it. Its cash registers can mechanically, Schiffer said. Because an item sells for a multiple of 99 cents, clerks equipped "blackout that calculate a customer's tab, including tax. All the clerk has to do is count the of items in the shopping cart and check tables on the sheet. week's power crunch has been by fact that interruptible customers longer face large if they decline to shut down their operations when supplies get critically low. ?????The Public Utilities Commission the fines to ease burden about businesses that found the brunt of the crisis to in the rest of the state. ?????According to about 10% its interruptible customers are complying with to curtail electricity usage during crunch time. But Keller isn't among them. ?????The owner of Chino-based STC Plastics Inc. said he was forced down more than 20 since September, costing as as in production per He ignored requests Monday and Tuesday to curtail usage and said doesn't feel a twinge of remorse. ?????"If I'm shut down, pay workers," he said. feel more guilty about ?????But is one area where might Moraga are plans would cover penalties for to use power after they been asked by a -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, March 21, 2001 A Blackout on Davis needs to do a better job communicating to Californians about the electricity crisis. In the absence of that, grows. ?????The of the 1970s, from the Arab oil embargo the Iran-Iraq war, were
the blackouts. But with nearly 100 Stores in CaLiforNia, ComPaNy PrEsidEnt 
Eric SchiffeR BeliEves it is only a matter of tIme beFoRE the LIgHts go Out 
at onE Of ITS ouTlEtS.
?????ThOuGH tHe stoRes Have somE backup powEr, tHe Chain has systEMs In place 
to oPerAte without it. its Cash reGiSteRS can oPen MechaNicallY, schiffEr 
said. BecAuSE an iteM Sells foR A MuLtipLe of 99 cents, sales cleRKs ARe 
equipped with "BlackoUt SHeETS" thAt cAlculate a cUsTomer'S Tab, inclUDiNG 
TAx. ALL the clerk has tO do is count tHE nuMber of ItEms IN the shOppinG 
cARt aNd check the tAbleS on the sheEt.
?????This WEek's powER crunch Has beeN exAceRbatED bY tHe fAcT ThaT So-CalLEd 
iNterruptIbLe ElectRiciTY CUStomErs No loNger fAce large penalTieS if tHEy 
dEclinE to shUt doWn Their OperatIons wHeN supplies get criTicaLly low.
?????The pubLiC UtIlIties cOmmissIon SusPended tHe fines IN JaNuARY To Ease 
the burden on aboUt 1,400 BUSiNesses thAt founD ThEmSElves beaRiNg tHe brUNT 
of thE criSIs To prevenT rolliNG bLaCkouts iN tHe rest Of The StaTe.
?????AccORdinG to EdiSon, about 10% Of its INterruptible cuSTomers are 
compLYiNG WiTH reqUesTs to curtail ElecTRiciTy usAGe DurINg cruNch tiMe. bUt 
sCott Keller isn't among ThEm.
?????The oWner oF Chino-based STc Plastics INC. SAid he was ForcED tO Shut 
down more thAn 20 timEs since SepTEmber, cosTing hIm as much As $10,000 in 
lost pRODuction pEr dAy. HE igNorED ReQuests Monday aND tuesDaY to curtAil 
Usage anD saId hE doEsn'T fEel a twingE of remorSe.
?????"if i'm ShUt dOwn, I cAN't pay my wOrKerS," hE saId. "I'd fEEl more 
GuiltY aboUt ThAT."
?????BuT this is ONe AREa whErE iNsurAncE eVentuAlly MIghT help. MoRaga said 
sOme CArriErS aRe develOping plans thaT wOuld cover pEnAltIes for CONtinuing 
To use power after they have BEen askeD by A utilIty tO cut back.
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WEdnEsday, MArcH 21, 2001 
a BlackOut on ANswerS 
DAviS NEeds tO DO a BetTeR job in commUNIcaTing tO CAlifOrnians About the 
electricitY CriSis. In the absenCe oF thaT, CYnIciSM gROws. 

?????thE Oil SHOcks of the 1970s, from tHe Arab oil eMbARgO to the Iran-iRaq 
WaR, were deAd
the blackouts. But with ne arly 100 s tores  in  Ca li forn ia,company Presid e nt Eric Schiffer believes  it i so nlya  m atter  of tim e  b e f ore  t he  li gh t sgo ou t at oneof its out let s. 
?????Though th e stores h ave  some backup  po wer, t he  ch a in ha s s ystem s in p l ace 
t o operate  w i thouti t. Itsc a sh  reg isters can open m e ch a nically, Schif fer 
s ai d .B e cau sean item se ll s for a multi p le o f  99 cents, salesclerks areequ ippedwi th" blacko ut sh ee t s"that calcul atea custome r's ta b , inclu d ing 
ta x. All  th e c lerk ha stodo isc ou ntt henumber o fit ems i n th e s h oppi ng
car t and  check the ta ble s on the  shee t.
?? ???T hi s wee k's po wer c ru nch has been ex acer bated bythe  f act  t hat s o -calle d int errupti ble ele c tri ci t y cu stomers no longerfa c e  l arge pen alties if  t h ey 
decl in e t o sh u t  down  the i roperatio ns whe n  s up plies g et  criti ca lly  lo w.
?? ? ??Th e Publ ic Utili tiesC ommission susp e nded the fine s  i n Ja n uary  to  ease 
theburd e n on  abo u t1,4 0 0 bus iness es th a t found themselvesbe aringthe b runt 
of thecrisis top r e vent rol ling bl a ckouts in therestof the sta t e.
????? Accor ding toEdison, a b o ut 10% o f i tsint err u p ti ble customers a re co mplying  wi th requ est s t o c urt ai l electri city usa ge  d ur in g c runch time. Bu t
Sc ot t K eller isn'tamong  the m. 
? ? ??? The own e ro f  Chi no -b ased  ST CPlast icsI nc.  said h e was for ced to s hu t
down m ore than 20 t im es since S ep tem ber, c o s ting him  as much as $10,000 inlost pr odu ction  per  day. Heign ored r equ e sts Mo nday a nd Tu es day t o cur t a il  
u sa ge and sai d hedoesn 't  fee l a twi nge of remorse.
?? ? ??" If I'm shut d own , Ic a n' t p a ym y w or k ers , "  he said. "I'dfeel more
g u il ty about t h at. "?????Bu t thisis on e  area w here insu rance eve nt uall y mig ht help. M oraga sa id 
somec arrie r sare d eve loping  p lan s tha t woul d  co ver p enalti es  for c ontin ui ng 
to u se power after they hav e been  aske d b y a utili tyt o c ut back.---- ---------- --- --- ----- --- - ----- ---- - -- --- - ----- ---- - --------- - -- --- - - -- ----
------ - - - --- ----- --- - ------ ---- ----------------- - -------------- ---- - - --- --W edne sd ay, March 21,200 1A  Blackou ton Answers
Davis n ee d s todo a b etterjob inc o mm u nicati ng t o C alifornia nsab o ut the
e le c tricit y cr is is. In  the a b senc e of that, cynicis m gro w s . 

? ? ??? The o il  shocks of t he 1970s,from the Ar ab oil  emb argoto theIr an-Ira q wa r, were de a d
the blackouts._But with_nearly 100 stores in_California, company_President_
Eric Schiffer_believes_it is only_a matter of_time before the lights_go out 
at_one_of its outlets.
?????Though the stores have some backup power, the chain has systems in_place_
to operate_without_it._Its cash registers can open_mechanically, Schiffer 
said. Because an_item sells_for a multiple of 99 cents, sales clerks_are_
equipped with "blackout_sheets" that calculate a customer's tab, including 
tax. All_the clerk has to do is_count the number_of_items_in the shopping 
cart_and check the tables on the_sheet.
?????This week's power crunch has been_exacerbated by the fact that so-called 
interruptible_electricity customers no longer face large_penalties if they 
decline to_shut down_their operations when supplies get_critically low.
?????The Public_Utilities Commission_suspended the fines_in January to ease 
the burden_on about 1,400_businesses that found themselves bearing the_brunt_
of the crisis_to_prevent_rolling blackouts_in the rest_of_the state.
?????According_to_Edison, about 10% of its interruptible_customers_are 
complying with requests to curtail electricity_usage during crunch time._But_
Scott Keller isn't among_them.
?????The owner of Chino-based STC_Plastics Inc. said he was forced_to shut_
down more_than 20 times since September, costing him as much as $10,000_in 
lost production per day. He_ignored requests Monday and_Tuesday to_curtail_
usage and said_he_doesn't feel_a twinge of remorse.
?????"If I'm shut down,_I can't_pay my workers," he said. "I'd_feel more 
guilty about_that."
?????But_this is one area where insurance_eventually might help. Moraga said 
some_carriers are developing plans that_would_cover_penalties for continuing 
to use_power after they have been asked_by a utility_to cut back.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Wednesday, March 21, 2001 
A_Blackout_on Answers 
Davis needs to do_a_better job in communicating to Californians_about_the_
electricity crisis. In the absence_of that, cynicism grows. 

?????The oil_shocks of the 1970s, from the Arab oil embargo_to the Iran-Iraq_
war, were dead