State Power Crisis: Questions for Leaders

According to “Republicans May Block Power Bill” (April 26), “Since January, the state has spent $5.2 billion in general taxpayer money to buy electricity, and the amount is rising by an average of $54 million a day. [Gov. Gray] Davis has not provided a breakdown of the spending. He has also refused to release contracts he has entered into with independent power producers, despite a lawsuit filed by GOP legislators.” What is going on? Does the governor think that our tax money is his personal treasure chest to spend? I smell problems that Davis has screwed up and can’t get out of. My gut feeling is that the taxpayers’ funds have been lost forever.

ALLAN L. GRIFFITH

Glendale

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It is morally unconscionable that the federal government sits idly by, twiddling its thumbs while America suffers from an electricity crisis. I ask myself why. Well, it’s easy to see that President Bush’s ethos of survival of the fittest will greatly enrich friends of his in the energy field. Gather ye rosebuds, and profits, while ye may. As to the Congress? I don’t know. Cowardice, maybe. This whole situation is pathetic and moving closer to catastrophe.

SHARON SOLOMON

Manhattan Beach

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Since the DWP is selling surplus energy back to California amid this energy crisis the state is having, I wonder what it’s doing with the money it’s making off the sale of surplus energy. Those of you who so quickly bash the Republicans who favored deregulation of utilities should be asking yourselves, “Where’s the extra money going?”

Should we DWP customers expect a sudden drop in rates due to the sale of surplus energy? Should we expect a local tax break to offset the mandated subsidies the DWP gets? At least a deregulated private company could honestly say that money earned from the sale of surplus energy equals profits. What is the DWP calling it? And what is it doing with it?

KEVIN LEE SMITH

San Pedro