Utilities urged to boost reserves

California utilities will be boosting their electricity reserves, as the PUC acted on Governor Schwarzenegger's request:

Investor-owned utilities such as San Francisco's Pacific Gas and Electric Co. must line up the extra power -- 15 percent to 17 percent more than the expected need -- by June 1, 2006.

The California Public Utilities Commission already voted in January to require those reserves but gave the utilities until Jan. 1, 2008. Schwarzenegger asked that the date be moved up, arguing that blackouts could strike sooner than expected.

Since 2006 is the projected next date for a possible energy crisis, it only makes sense to plan now to have extra power in the bank.