r hettinga rahshipwrightcom begin forwarded text date wed 25 sep 2002 135715 0400 digital bearer settlement list r hettinga subject california needs intelligent energy deregulation sender httpwwwsiliconvalleycommldsiliconvalley4144696htmtemplatecontentmodulesprintstoryjsp posted tue sep 24 2002 dan gillmor state needs intelligent energy deregulation dan gillmor mercury news technology columnist facts trade government secrets time energy industry failed smell test 2000 2001 tried justify soaring wholesale electricity naturalgas prices california investigators regulators unravel reasons financial fiscal mess well cleaning decades learning everyone suspected market games helped engineer price spikes latest manipulation highlighted mondays finding federal administrative law judge said dominant naturalgas company squeezed supplies order squeeze customers ruling came days californias public utilities commission reported electricity generators mysteriously failed use available capacity crunch also driving prices dont forget sleazy games energy traders gleefully worked system schemes best summed enron insiders boast memorandum made public may enron gets paid moving energy relieve congestion without actually moving energy relieving congestion much illegal opposed simply amoral remains seen unfortunately californias response confusion lawsuits policy tweaks hasnt sufficient unfortunately even state suddenly right things including hardnosed program designed free gougers grips would need willing federal partner foolish think bush administration would much help one least favorite states anything conflicts love traditional nonrenewable energy sources lawsuits various energy companies traders bear fruit best expect pay massive debts state amassed prevent total collapse early 2001 thats reasonable approach dont expect miracles state policies moving wrong way utility regulation meanwhile instead relentlessly pursuing smart deregulation still good idea gives customers genuine choices state laws regulations put utilities back business buying energy captive customers notes v john white executive director sacramentobased center energy efficiency renewable technologies wwwceertorg tempting call outright state takeover utilities tempting bad idea theres genuine competition could achieve electricity generation private sector tends better job instead abandoning deregulation california find way inject real competition market need recognize current system delivering electricity defies privatization least current conditions smart regulation essential best response gouging use less gougers control two ways conservation replacement need best recent step new state law slowly surely ratchets use electricity renewables 2017 californias utilities get 20 percent power solar renewable sources several power companies expected even sooner law element oldline thinking captivecustomer model need getting away sustaining lip service newer ideas isnt enough state removing barriers microgeneration systems small generators run variety fuels provide decentralized hardertodisrupt electricity homes businesses technology coming along fast state policies keeping pace investing save energy increasingly smartest move california encourage whether tax incentives outright grants lowincome households california hasnt done badly conservation general sense energy customers react last years soaring rates blackouts cutting back lunacy wait next crisis something avoid altogether maybe pointless bush administrations energy policies grossly tilted toward unholy trinity oil coal nuclear making us vulnerable never mind might happen coming war iraq goes badly pointless hope sane federal policy crash program drastically speed inevitable transition hydrogenbased energy system largest state one worlds major economies right clout hit ripoff artists hurts protect even serious disruptions maybe next year r hettinga internet bearer underwriting corporation 44 farquhar street boston 02131 usa however may deserve respect usefulness antiquity predicting end world found agreeable experience edward gibbon decline fall roman empire end forwarded text r hettinga internet bearer underwriting corporation 44 farquhar street boston 02131 usa however may deserve respect usefulness antiquity predicting end world found agreeable experience edward gibbon decline fall roman empire wed 25 sep 2002 153940 0400 california needs intelligent energy deregulation