It doesn't look like he is going to sign the bill that takes 150 million out 
of the general fund for San Diego rate payers
---------------------- Forwarded by Sandra McCubbin/SFO/EES on 09/06/2000 
03:22 PM ---------------------------


	Joseph Alamo
	09/06/2000 03:15 PM
	
To: Sandra McCubbin/SFO/EES@EES
cc:  
Subject: Gov. Davis Press Release



OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

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L00:091  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2000  


GOVERNOR DAVIS SIGNS ELECTRICITY CONSUMER RELIEF LEGISLATION
SACRAMENTO ) Governor Gray Davis continued his commitment to easing the 
burden of San Diego ratepayers by signing two major pieces of legislation 
designed to stabilize the cost of electricity and streamline the siting 
process for new power plants. 

"One of the major achievements of this year's legislative session is our 
aggressive response to California's energy challenge," Governor Davis said. 
"My Administration did not create this problem, but we are 100-percent 
committed to solving it. And, now, after a long, hot summer of unconscionably 
high energy prices, relief is finally on the way." 

AB 265 by Assemblywoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) and Senator Deirdre Alpert 
(D-Coronado) will stabilize the price of electricity for consumers and small 
business (including schools and hospitals) in San Diego at 6.5 cents per 
kilowatt-hour. These rates will be retroactive from June 1, 2000 and extend 
to December 31, 2003. 

"In the short term, this will ease the uncertainty of San Diego energy 
prices," Governor Davis said. "When it comes to predicting their electric 
bills, San Diego consumers have been in the dark long enough. This is an 
urgency measure. I am signing this bill today so that the PUC can take 
immediate action at its meeting tomorrow." 

As a result of this legislation, the average monthly bill for residential 
customers in San Diego will be reduced to $68. Small businesses (all schools 
and acute-care hospitals are included) will pay an average monthly bill of 
$220. Medium businesses (consuming up to 72,000 kilowatt-hours a month) would 
also have a price cap of 6.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. For large businesses, 
AB 265 would allow for a negotiated payment plan with SDG&E over a longer 
period of time. 

AB 970 by Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego) and Assemblyman Jim 
Battin (R-La Quinta) will help California overcome the inadequate supply of 
energy, one of the biggest obstacles to lower energy prices, by expediting 
the siting process for new power plants and streamlining permitting for 
upgrades of old facilities. 

"Restrictions and red tape have presented a powerful disincentive to those 
who would build more power generators in California," Governor Davis said. 
"This bill will benefit consumers by increasing supply to meet growing 
demand. It will also establish new programs to reduce demand." 

Over the last three months, Governor Gray Davis' leadership has been 
demonstrated in his response to the San Diego electricity crisis: 


On June 14, he called for emergency reduction of electricity use by all state 
facilities in the San Francisco Bay area in response to electricity emergency 
and rolling blackouts. 
On June 15, he called on chairpersons of the Public Utilities Commission 
(PUC) to analyze the conditions that led to electricity shortages in the San 
Francisco Bay area the previous day, including a statewide perspective on the 
price and delivery of electricity. Report was completed, submitted to the 
governor and released on August 2. 
On July 27, 2000, Governor Davis called on federal and state regulators to 
take swift action to extend the caps on wholesale electric rates in 
California and provide San Diego ratepayers with million of dollars in 
refunds. 
In letters written by the governor to two state regulatory agencies and two 
California-based panels charged with overseeing California's power market, he 
called for a coordinated state effort to urge federal regulators to take 
strong measures to reduce power rates in both the short- and long-term. 
On August 2, 2000, Governor Davis issued three Executive Orders designed to 
reduce energy consumption by state government and speed up the time it takes 
new power generating facilities to win approval from state agencies. Please 
go to http://www.governor.ca.gov/briefing/execorder/index.shtm to view copies 
of Governor Davis' Executive Orders. 
On August 9, 2000, Governor Davis called on the Public Utilities Commission 
(PUC) to establish a two-year plan that would cut electricity rates by nearly 
half for residential and business customers of San Diego Gas & Electric. 
The governor also reached an agreement with the California Grocers 
Association that will save enough electricity to provide power to between 
50,000 and 60,000 homes during periods of peak demand, as grocers agreed to 
reduce power consumption by 10 percent during Stage One emergencies. 
On August 10, 2000, Governor Davis wrote a letter to President Clinton urging 
him to expedite the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's investigation to 
determine whether current electric rates in San Diego were unjust. 
On August 22, 2000, Governor Davis called on President Clinton to release 
emergency funds from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 
to the state to help low-income Californians pay their rapidly-rising 
electricity bills. 
On August 23, 2000, President Clinton responded to Governor Davis' request by 
releasing $2.6 million in emergency funds to help low-income Southern 
Californians cope with the surge in their electricity bills. The president 
also asked federal regulators to speed up their investigation into the 
operation of U.S. power markets and urged the Small Business Administration 
to use its credit programs to help small firms hurt by the price increases. 
On August 23, 2000, Governor Davis reached agreement with legislators on 
legislation to provide relief to San Diego ratepayers. Today's bill signing 
is the culmination of that agreement.
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GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS   ?   SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95814    ?     (916) 445-2841