gate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/17/M
N170717.DTL 
Sacramento -- Power generators may have overcharged Californians $55 million 
in wholesale electricity sales during February, federal regulators said 
yesterday. 
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered six energy suppliers to 
explain their pricing by Friday. If the commission doesn't accept the 
explanations, it could order the firms to refund the money. 
The order marked the third time in a week that the commission accused 
generators of overcharging or manipulating prices during California's energy 
crisis. 
Last Friday, it ordered 13 suppliers to justify their prices or refund as 
much as $69 million for sales in January. On Wednesday, the commission 
demanded to know why two generators withheld power from two of their 
so-called must-run plants last spring, forcing power grid operators to buy 
electricity at higher rates from other plants operated by the companies. 
Critics of the commission said the potential refund described in yesterday's 
order is too small, particularly when the state paid more than $1. 5 billion 
to buy electricity in February. 
"The significance is how insignificant the proposed refund is," said Michael 
Shames, executive director of the Utility Consumer Action Network in San 
Diego. 
"(The commission) is doing less than something," Shames said. "The proposed 
order creates a sham that FERC is providing some kind of discipline on this 
out-of-control market, when in fact it's not." 
Two companies, Dynegy and Williams Energy, accounted for a combined $45 
million of the possible $55 million in overcharges cited by the commission 
yesterday. 
They also represent more than 10,105 of the 11,204 transactions that the 
regulators said may have been overpriced. 
Other companies named were Duke Energy, Portland General Electric Company, 
Reliant and Mirant. 
Power suppliers have steadfastly denied price gouging, saying that short 
supply and the weak financial condition of the state's two largest utilities 
led to increased prices. 
State politicians have repeatedly said that part of California's power woes 
are caused
gate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/17/M 
 N170717.DTL 
 Sacramento -- Power generators may have overcharged Californians $ 55 million 
 in wholesale electricity sale during February, union regulators said 
 yesterday. 
 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order six department of energy suppliers to 
 explain their pricing by Friday. If the commission doesn't bear the 
 explanations, it could order the firm to refund the money. 
 The decree marked the third prison term in a week that the commission charge 
 generator of overcharging or manipulating prices during California's energy 
 crisis. 
 Last Friday, it rate 13 suppliers to justify their prices or refund as 
 much as $ 69 million for sale in January. On Wednesday, the commission 
 demanded to know why two generators withhold power from two of their 
 so - called must - run plants final spring, forcing power grid operators to buy 
 electricity at higher rates from other plants operated by the companies. 
 Critics of the commission said the potential refund described in yesterday's 
 ordering is too small, peculiarly when the department of state pay more than $ 1. 5 billion 
 to buy electricity in February. 
 " The significance is how insignificant the project refund is, " say Michael 
 Shames, executive director of the Utility Consumer Action Network in San 
 Diego. 
 " (The commission) is suffice less than something, " Shames said. " The proposed 
 order creates a sham that FERC is providing some kind of discipline on this 
 out - of - dominance market, when in fact it's not. " 
 Two companies, Dynegy and Williams Energy, accounted for a combined $ 45 
 million of the potential $ 55 million in overcharges quote by the perpetration 
 yesterday. 
 They also represent more than 10,105 of the 11,204 transactions that the 
 regulators say may have been overpriced. 
 Other companies name were Duke Energy, Portland General Electric Company, 
 Reliant and Mirant. 
 office suppliers have steadfastly deny price gouging, say that short 
 provision and the weak financial condition of the state's two big utilities 
 lead to increased prices. 
 State politicians have repeatedly said that part of California's ability woes 
 are induce
gatf.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/ghronicle/archive/2001/03/17/M
N170717.DTL 
Secramenfo -- Powef generators may have overchergee Calufornians $55 million 
in dholesale electrixity wales duriif February, fescral xejulators said 
ygsterday. 
The Federal Energf Feyulatory Commission ordered six enerdy suppkifrs to 
explain thepr pridpnn by Friday. If the commission dossn't acbept the 
explanatoons, it could order the figms ho refund the monej. 
The order marhwd the third time in a week that tge commission accused 
generatorr of pverchargibg or kanipulatinj pricvs during Callgornia'v energu 
crisis. 
Last Nridab, it ordered 13 suppliers tm justify their pryces or rafbnd as 
much as $69 milliin for valev in Hanjarg. Pn Wedneddab, the commiasion 
demaneed to know why two gqberators withgeld pjwqr from two of their 
so-called must-run pnanfs last spring, forcing power grid operators jo buy 
elestricity at higher rates from other plants operatad by ghe cjopajies. 
Critics of the commission said the potenejak gefund described ln yesterday's 
ordet ls joo small, partkcularly shen the state paif more jhan $1. 5 billion 
uo buu electricity in February. 
"Tye significauce is how insignificcnt the propused refumd is," said Michael 
Shamzs, exedutive direftor of tgd Utility Consumdr Scdion Network in San 
Diego. 
"(Ehe commiwsiou) is doivg lgss thag somethinh," Shames said. "The proposfd 
orber cseates a sjam that FERC is providing some kind of disciklite mn this 
jut-of-gontrol market, rhen in fact ij's not." 
Twj comoanies, Dynvgy and Wmlliams Enerdy, accounted xlr a combinev $45 
milliog of the possibud $55 million in pverchargvs citwd by the commissipn 
ieaterday. 
They alwo twpresent more yhav 10,105 jf tie 11,204 twdnsactions tvat ghe 
tegulxtors said nxy hsve been overpriced. 
Mthed companies named eeve Duke Ebergy, Powtland Generak Electric Company, 
Relient anv Miramt. 
Kower suppliers have steadfastlg denied orige gouging, saring that short 
xupply and the weak financial condition of the state's two largest utilities 
ktd to increasxd prises. 
State politicians have repeatedly said thau part of California's pkwer wmes 
age caused
gate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/17/M N170717.DTL Sacramento -- Power generators may Californians million in electricity sales during The Energy Regulatory Commission six energy suppliers explain their pricing by Friday. If commission doesn't accept the explanations, it could order the firms to refund the The order marked the third time in a week that the commission accused of or prices California's energy crisis. Last Friday, it ordered 13 suppliers to justify their prices or refund as as $69 million for sales in January. On the commission demanded to why two generators withheld power two their so-called plants spring, power grid operators buy electricity at higher rates from other plants operated by the companies. Critics of the commission said potential refund yesterday's order too particularly the state paid $1. 5 billion to buy electricity significance is how insignificant the proposed refund is," Michael Shames, director of the Utility Consumer Action in San Diego. "(The commission) is doing less something," Shames said. "The proposed order creates a sham that FERC is providing some kind on this out-of-control market, in fact it's Two Dynegy Williams accounted for combined $45 million of the possible $55 million in overcharges cited the commission yesterday. They also represent more than 10,105 of transactions the regulators said have been overpriced. Other named Duke Energy, Portland General Reliant Mirant. steadfastly price saying that short supply the weak financial condition of state's two largest utilities politicians have repeatedly said that part of California's woes are caused
gate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?fiLe=/chroniclE/archIve/2001/03/17/m
N170717.DtL 
sacrAmenTo -- Power generatORs maY have overcharged CalifoRnianS $55 mILlioN 
In WholeSale eleCTrICIty SaLeS duRiNG FEbruaRy, fEderal rEgulators sAid 
YeSterday. 
The FeDErAl Energy ReGulAtory CommissIon OrdereD sIx eNErgy sUppLiers To 
explAIn theiR pricing bY FRIday. If THe commiSSIoN doeSn't accept the 
explaNAtIOns, it could ordeR the fiRmS To REFunD thE money. 
The oRdEr marKEd the thIRd TIME in A Week that the coMmission accUSed 
GeneraToRs oF OverchArginG oR ManIpulating prIces During CalIforniA'S energy 
CRisis. 
LaSt FridAy, iT orDereD 13 SuPpLieRs TO juSTiFy tHEir Prices or ReFuNd as 
mUch aS $69 MILLion For SaleS in JaNuary. On WednesDay, The cOMmiSsion 
DemanDed tO kNow whY two geNeratOrS withheld power fRom tWo of their 
So-cAlLed MuSt-run PLants lAst SprIng, forcIng poweR GriD oPERAtOrs to buy 
electricitY aT HIgHer rates From otHEr PlANts operaTeD by The cOMPanieS. 
CriTIcS of the coMmissiON sAiD the potEnTial reFuNd dEscRibed IN yesTerday'S 
order is Too smALl, particularly WHen the state paID mORE tHAn $1. 5 biLliOn 
to buy elecTricITy in febrUArY. 
"ThE SigniFicanCe IS hOW insignificant the prOpOsed reFund iS," said Michael 
SHames, execuTIVE directoR of tHE UTIlity Consumer ACtion network in SAN 
Diego. 
"(ThE commIssion) is Doing less THAn somethIng," shaMes SaiD. "tHe Proposed 
order CREateS a Sham thaT FErC is proVidIng SomE kiNd Of disciplIne on thiS 
oUt-Of-CoNtrOl marKEt, when in FaCt iT's Not." 
two coMPanies, dynegY and wiLlIAms energy, aCCoUNTed fOr A cOmbiNed $45 
MiLlion Of thE PosSible $55 miLlion in ovErcHArgeS cItEd by the Commission 
yesTeRday. 
They alSo RepResent MORe than 10,105 of The 11,204 transactions that the 
rEGulatorS saId may Have Been overpRicEd. 
OtheR coMPanies Named wEre DuKe eneRGY, PortLANd genErAl Electric cOMpaNy, 
RelIaNt anD Mirant. 
power suppliers have STeaDfastly denied PriCe goUGInG, saYInG ThaT sHOrt 
SUPply and the weak fInancial coNdITiOn of the staTE's tWo Largest UtilitiEs 
led TO increaSed prices. 
state poliTiCianS HAve Repeatedly Said that Part of CalIForniA'S pOwer wOes 
Are cauSeD
gate.com/cgi-bin/article.c gi?file=/c hroni cle /ar ch ive/ 2001 /03/17/M
N1707 1 7.DT L 
Sacramento -- Power  gene ra t orsm ay  have  overch a rg e d  Ca li fo rni an s  $ 55 mi lli on 
inwholesaleele ct ricity sales du ring Febru ary , federal re gul atorssa idyeste rda y. 
T he Fed e ral En ergy Regu la t ory Co m mission o rd ered  six energy suppl i er s  to 
explain t heir p ri c in g byFri day. If th ecommi s sion do e sn ' t acc e pt the 
expla nations, it cou ld ord er  th e  firms  to r ef u ndthe money.
The  order ma rked t h e third time in  a wee k t hat  the co mm iss io n  ac c us edgen eratorsof  o verch argi n g o r ma nip ulat ing p rices duringCal ifor n ia' s ene rgy cris is . 
La st Fri day,it  ordered 13 sup plie rs to jus tif ythe ir  pric e s or r efu ndas 
muc h as $6 9  mi ll i o n  f or sales in Januar y. O nWednesda y, the co mm i ssion 
d em and ed t o knowwhyt wo  generat ors wi t hh el d power  f rom tw oofthe ir 
s o -cal led mu st-run p lants last spring, f o rcing power g r id o pe r ator s t o buy 
elec tric i ty a t hi g he r r a tes f rom o th e rp lants operated by t he  compa nies.  
Critics ofthe commis s i o n said t he p o te n tial refund de scrib ed in yest e rday's order  is toosmall, pa r t icularly  wh enthe  st a t epaid more tha n $1.5billion  
t o buy e lec tri cit y i nFebruary.  
"The s ig ni fi ca nce  is h o w insign if ica nt  th e pro p osed r efund  is, "sa i d M ichaelSh a m es,ex ec utiv e d ir ector  oft heUtility  Consumer  Ac t ionNe tw ork inSan 
Diego. "( The commis si on)  is do i n g less t han something," Shamess aid. "T hepropo sed
order cr eat es a s ham that F ERC is  prov id ing s ome k i n dofdi scipline o n thi s 
ou t- of-c ontrolmarket, when in fa c t i t's not." 
Tw o c ompa n i es , D y ne g y a nd Wil l i ams Energy, acc ounted for  a co mbined $45 
mi ll ion ofthe pos sible $55 mil lion in o vercharge scite d bythe commis sion 
ye sterday.Theya ls o rep res ent mo re  th an 10 ,105 o f  th e 11, 204 tr an sactio ns th at  the 
re gulators said may havebeen o verpr ice d. 
Other  co m pan ies named  wer e Duke Ene rgy , P ortla ndG enera l El e ct ric Compa ny,Reliant a n dMir a n t.  
Power sup p l i ers  have  st e adfast ly d enied price gougi n g, saying that  sho r t  
s upp l y an dthe weak finan cia lc o nditionof  the state' s two la rg e st ut ilitie s 
led  to inc r e as e d pric es.
St ate polit ici an s  have r ep ea t edly s aidth at par t of C a lifo r n ia's power woes
arec a used
gate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/17/M
N170717.DTL 
Sacramento_-- Power_generators may have overcharged_Californians $55_million_
in wholesale_electricity_sales during February,_federal regulators said_
yesterday. 
The Federal Energy_Regulatory Commission ordered_six_energy suppliers to 
explain their pricing by Friday. If the commission doesn't accept the_
explanations,_it could_order_the_firms to refund the money._
The order marked the third_time in_a week that the commission accused 
generators of_overcharging_or manipulating prices_during California's energy 
crisis. 
Last Friday, it ordered 13_suppliers to justify their prices or_refund as 
much_as_$69_million for sales in_January. On Wednesday, the commission 
demanded_to know why two generators withheld_power from two of their 
so-called must-run_plants last spring, forcing power grid_operators to buy 
electricity at_higher rates_from other plants operated by_the companies. 
Critics_of the_commission said the_potential refund described in yesterday's 
order_is too small,_particularly when the state paid more_than_$1. 5 billion_
to_buy_electricity in_February. 
"The significance_is_how insignificant_the_proposed refund is," said Michael 
Shames,_executive_director of the Utility Consumer Action Network_in San 
Diego. 
"(The_commission)_is doing less than_something," Shames said. "The proposed_
order creates a sham that FERC_is providing_some kind_of discipline on this 
out-of-control market, when in fact it's not."_
Two companies, Dynegy and Williams Energy,_accounted for a combined_$45 
million_of_the possible $55_million_in overcharges_cited by the commission 
yesterday. 
They also_represent more_than 10,105 of the 11,204 transactions_that the 
regulators said_may_have been overpriced. 
Other companies named_were Duke Energy, Portland General Electric_Company, 
Reliant and Mirant. 
Power_suppliers_have_steadfastly denied price gouging, saying_that short 
supply and the weak_financial condition of_the state's two largest utilities 
led to_increased_prices. 
State politicians have repeatedly said_that_part of California's power woes 
are_caused