Who is at fault for the Cal power crisis?

[beer]

I would like to know specifically which political groups and individuals are responsible for the power crisis that has led to rolling blackouts today.

I'm planning on bringing it up with my ultra-libral AP US teacher tomorrow, since we clash heads on political issues every day.

I know for one part can thank a certain left-wing political group (no names) for banning the production of additional power plants in california the last decade, and that combined with the deregulation instituted by the state now has led to roling blackouts in the state that is the fifth largest economy in the world...

I want to know who physically promoted the deregulation. I know some repubs did too but I know liberals pushed it more.

 

[Valhalla1]

its Mday's fault.

 

[GreenBeret]

Everyone. You, me and your pet leech.

 

[Raspewtin]

<< I know some repubs did too but I know liberals pushed it more. >>




There was a Democratic senator that was the &quot;architect&quot; of deregulation if you are looking for someone to pin. However there was so much cooperation on this it should illustrate to you that there is really only one party.

 

[loup garou]

Oops! That was me...I'm such a klutz, I tripped over the cord and it came unplugged.

*snap*

There, I plugged it back in...how's that?

 

[beer]

Your humor barely caused me to smile.

Ras -

Thanks! Do you have a name?

 

[Zoson]

Easy Question, Silicon Valley. All those half @sses trying to make an easy million on some BS .com idea with their 10jillion watt combined power useage.
BS .com imitation sites piss me off
-Zoson

 

[beer]

But power usage is not the majority of the fault here. What caused this is three big things, in this order:

1) Deregulating only half the power market (supply, not demand) by locking in rates
2) Democratic and other left wing treehuggers that prevented the building of more power plants (This is undoubtably a democratic fault here)
3) Uncontrolled power usage as a result of a high-tech, high-priced upscale economy.

Anyone disagree?

 

[ElFenix]

that list seems about the right mix for a disaster.

 

[Regine]

Read this article from the Cato Institute.

 

[Raspewtin]

<< Thanks! Do you have a name? >>



I can't remember it now. He recently came out with a 20 min video showing the videotaped moments he was against deregulation. Sorry, just can't remember his name. BTW Senator in Calfornia, not a federal senator - if that helps. \


toolgirl,

that editorial was interesting; it would have been cool if they would have offered an alternate plan just for comparison.

 

[Androck99]

The crisis it caused by all the OC'ers who bump their voltages way to high!

 

[compuwiz1]

The state's fault for not seeing and planning accordingly (the tree huggers). It sure can't be ours. We paid the electic companys alot of money to manage our program for us. The rates are high here and the program has failed.
Now we are going to get rolling blackouts........how fun.

 

[RossMAN]

Those damned Californians who are OC'ing their Durons and Athlons, hehe (j/k)

 

[Tiger]

Elemental,

Your list is right on target.

1. If you deregulate wholesale prices, allow them to rise, and cap retail prices you take away the electric company's only source of income to build new capacity. Couple that with 20% increased demand across the state in the last 10 years and you've got a problem. It's simple supply and demand.

2. Add to number 1 above the fact that the tree huggers make it impossible to build new plants even if the power company's could afford to build them. California got in this mess because it didn't allow building of capacity at the same rate of usage. Energy efficiency and conservation might save you 5-10% on the demand side, but your still short 10% on capacity.

 

[beer]

Thanks, now I'm waiting for some ultraliberal like Shux to comment on this thread so I can be prepared for my teacher =)

Thanks.

 

[ride525]

It's both Democrats or Republicans.

It started with the heavily Republican California Public Utilities Commission putting together a paper on deregulation in 1995.

Senator Peace (a Dem I think) helped put together the legislature's version and AB1890 passed unamimously in 1996.

 

[chess9]

Americans are energy pigs. That's the problem.

California is now facing the sort of problems that will plague the rest of the country if we don't learn to conserve energy. My teenage daughter hasn't seen a light switch that should be in the off position. Every time I go into a room I shut off two or three lights that aren't needed.

We can't build energy plants ad infinitum. At some point development must stop and cooperative, energy saving methods must be fully utilized. California is there now.

What can you do?

1. Turn off lights;
2. Use air conditioning sparingly, if at all;
3. Ditto for heating;
4. Use your electric dryer less;
5. Turn off televisions, computers, radios, etc. Almost every home has a television running full time. Read a book for a change.

This challenge might actually be good for California and the rest of the country.

Hello?!

 

[hans007]

ack, if i turn off my computer then it'll save electricity!!! But then again i'm already paying up the ass to live in this dorm room, so i might as well use up as much electricity as i can i already paid for it. Next year i'll be in an apartment and paying for electricity at a non flat rate. I suppose i'll turn off my computer. Then WHAT!!!! my rc5 blocks wont crack! distributed computing will be hard hit!. I blame it on the cheapasses at the power companies who decided that they didnt need to build any new power plants. Also the idiots in the government who froze rates for 4 years, instead of letting it be free market at the start, thus losing the energy companies a ton of cash, by making them have a price cap (yes i learned that in my econ class, figured it was good for nothing but what do you know...)

 

[ToBeMe]

Themselves........but everyones allowed to make a few right?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Anand's 10 servers









(but that last one makes it all worth it)

 

[BoberFett]

Just because they call it de-regulation doesn't mean that what it is. No de-regulation I could imagine would include price caps.

 

[denali]

Here is a very good article about the current problem in CA. Also be sure to check this out.

 

[Raspewtin]

<< No de-regulation I could imagine would include price caps >>




Actually price caps came after deregulation, when deregulation wasn't working. It was a lame attempt at a band-aid, but deregulation was not meant to include price caps.

 

[Adul]

Good article denali. i am glad i do not live in cali anymore.