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A terrible thing happened a few years ago just before the good people of California saw fit to oust Grey Davis.
From the wikipedia
Rolling blackouts affecting 97,000 customers hit the San Francisco Bay area on June 14, 2000, and San Diego Gas & Electric Company filed a complaint alleging market manipulation by some energy producers in August 2000. On December 7, 2000, suffering from low supply and idled power plants, the California Independent System Operator (ISO), which manages the California power grid, declared the first statewide Stage 3 power alert, meaning power reserves were below 3 percent. Rolling blackouts were avoided when the state halted two large state and federal water pumps to conserve electricity.
On December 15, 2000, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected California's request for a wholesale rate cap for California, instead approving a "flexible cap" plan of $150 per megawatt-hour. That day, California was paying wholesale prices of over $1400 per megawatt, compared to $45 per megawatt average one year earlier.
In January 17, 2001, the electricity crisis caused Davis to declare a state of emergency. Speculators, led by Enron Corporation, were collectively making large profits while the state teetered on the edge for weeks, and finally suffered rolling blackouts January 17-18. Davis was forced to step in to buy power at highly unfavorable terms on the open market, since the California power companies were technically bankrupt and had no buying power. In addition, some of Davis' energy advisors were formerly employed by the same energy speculators who made millions from the crisis. The resulting massive long term debt obligations added to the state budget crisis and led to widespread grumbling about Davis' administration.
Part of Davis' fumbling attempt to correct the situation that he helped create in the first place was "flex your power" which started as a state funded pr machine which Davis used to beg not to be fired, and then morphed into the quasi religous cult it is today.
It's paid for by a special fee that is automaticly charged to all electricity consumers.
In fact I am paying for it now.
FUCK. -
A terrible thing happened a few years ago just before the good people of California saw fit to oust Grey Davis.
From the wikipedia
On December 15, 2000, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected California's request for a wholesale rate cap for California, instead approving a "flexible cap" plan of $150 per megawatt-hour. That day, California was paying wholesale prices of over $1400 per megawatt, compared to $45 per megawatt average one year earlier.
In January 17, 2001, the electricity crisis caused Davis to declare a state of emergency. Speculators, led by Enron Corporation, were collectively making large profits while the state teetered on the edge for weeks, and finally suffered rolling blackouts January 17-18. Davis was forced to step in to buy power at highly unfavorable terms on the open market, since the California power companies were technically bankrupt and had no buying power. In addition, some of Davis' energy advisors were formerly employed by the same energy speculators who made millions from the crisis. The resulting massive long term debt obligations added to the state budget crisis and led to widespread grumbling about Davis' administration.
Part of Davis' fumbling attempt to correct the situation that he helped create in the first place was "flex your power" which started as a state funded pr machine which Davis used to beg not to be fired, and then morphed into the quasi religous cult it is today.
It's paid for by a special fee that is automaticly charged to all electricity consumers.
In fact I am paying for it now.
FUCK. -
Sorry. I get emotional about this topic.