Energy re-regulation may head to November Ballot

Seeking to deny blame for any future energy crises, the Democrats in Sacramento are considering putting an energy re-regulation ballot measure before the voters in a special election in November 2005:

The union-backed group opposing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed special election said Tuesday that it had submitted signatures for its own competing measures on the potential ballot, one to reduce prescription drug costs and another to restore energy regulation.

The measures were partly intended as bargaining chips the group, Alliance for a Better California, hoped to use to dissuade Schwarzenegger from calling for special election. But in recent days, the governor has submitted signatures for his own proposals to alter teacher tenure and legislative district boundaries.

The energy reregulation measure essentially restores the structure of California's energy to its state prior to California's experiment with power market deregulation. It blocks customers from leaving utilities to buy power from other providers and restores utilities' legal obligation to serve end- user customers, a move intended to stabilize the market and help utilities plan for future demand.

Like others, I am almost inclined to trust the voters more than the legislature.