Posted on 08/11/2007 1:00:46 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
California Public Utilities Commission unveiled a proposal to create financial incentives for utilities to get their customers to use less power, with the threat of big fines if they do not. The plan would help meet the aggressive targets of the state's global-warming law passed last year, which calls for drastic cuts in CO2 emissions.
"This is one of the most important regulations on utility efficiency in history," said Ralph Cavanagh, co-director of the energy program of the Natural Resources Defense Council. It's precedent-setting for the nation."
Opponents say California, which has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation, already is spending enough money to cut energy consumption.
If approved, California's investor-owned utilities could earn up to $323 million over three years for cutting energy use. If the utilities fail to do so, they could pay up to $500 million in penalties.
CPUC expects the program to save the state's energy customers about $2.4 billion before 2008 because utilities would have to build fewer transmission lines and power plants. Energy savings would cut 3.4 million tons of CO2 next year.
Opponents say CPUC already approved $2.2 billion for energy-efficiency programs from 2006 to 2008. They dispute CPUC's estimates for savings, arguing that the new rules will end up costing ratepayers even more.
John White, director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, said the new rule gives utilities extra money to do the right thing.
Large utilities will promote more energy-efficiency programs such as asking customers to turn down their air conditioners during the hottest part of the day. "The alternative would be building more energy and that's clearly not the best way of meeting all of our environmental goals," said Keely Wachs, environmental communications manager for the utility.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
And just this week, Sacramento (where these government lunatics are located) broke multiple records this past week for the lowest high temperatures in August.
In many ways, this appears to be similar to the recent proposal in CA to make the buyers of large, non-PC vehicles to pay the buyers of tiny PC vehicles for their "wise" and state-approved choices.
I detest and hate how these appointed communists and socialists are restricting our freedoms and liberties.
Forced rationing of power soon to come to Kalifornia
Oh, Oh, Oh, me, me, me. Call on me! How about if you want less power consumption, let the utilities raise their prices? Less usage and more profit.
But, let the Utilities keep adding new customers. Fools they are...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
[. . .Energy savings would cut 3.4 million tons of CO2 next year.]
Which will instantly be replaced by CO2 and soot blowing in off the Pacific from the smokestack industries of China.
And alternate energy concepts are starved for financial backing. Look at iraq : terrorists take down the electrical energy grid whereas neighborhood gen-sets would solve the problem. Who’s dumber, the eco-flakes in sacramento or the people of CA? Smart people SOLVE problems, dumb ones WHINE.
Please share this with the Governator. Appreciate it.
The use of less power has already been an excuse to raise rates in the last five years or so.
They won’t build new freeways. They won’t build more power capacity. They will install toll booths and raise rates. Isn’t that the most important function of governments?
They have no responsibility to practice fiscal conservency. Just raise the funds somehow and spend us into oblivion while our quality of life take hit after hit.
Keep your air conditioners off. Don’t drive during rush hour. Cut our gas consumption, nobody’s going to build new refineries.
If our forefathers had implemented the same policies this generation of leaders are, we’d be walking everywhere we go. We wouldn’t have electrical devices. We wouldn’t have progressed one bit.
We need a new class of government officials who will take responsibility and agressively plan for and build for the future. And they can take the word can’t and through it out of the English language. We can build new road capacity. We can build more power capacity. We can grow and we will have to.
Now go out there and do it you dunderheads.
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