Poster
09-22-2003, 10:02 AM
During California’s 2001 power crisis, the Department of Water Resources contracted with power companies to provide electric for Californians. That’s keeping prices right where they were two years ago, and Californians want to do away with the system.
“The total $5.4 billion in crisis-related costs next year is "a shocking reminder of how devastating the crisis was and continues to be," said Douglas Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. “
Californians say the contracts violate federal law, and have taken their claim to court. FERC and a state court both upheld the validity of the contracts, but opponents plan to appeal the decision.
“Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the DWR, said the state's costs under the long-term power contracts, some of which run until 2012, are expected to decline in coming years. Yet he warned that expectation could be upset if the price of natural gas were to rise.”
“The total $5.4 billion in crisis-related costs next year is "a shocking reminder of how devastating the crisis was and continues to be," said Douglas Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. “
Californians say the contracts violate federal law, and have taken their claim to court. FERC and a state court both upheld the validity of the contracts, but opponents plan to appeal the decision.
“Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the DWR, said the state's costs under the long-term power contracts, some of which run until 2012, are expected to decline in coming years. Yet he warned that expectation could be upset if the price of natural gas were to rise.”