I maintain this topic as a separate section because politicians and policy analysts are prone to forget what happened in California around the turn of the current century. The power crisis then was a man-made catastrophe that is still playing out more than a decade later. For example, NRG, one of the utilities involved in the scandal, is now installing hundreds of electric vehicle charge stations across the sate as part of its long-overdue settlement with California.
More than a decade after the last rolling blackout, Californians could get $1.6 billion in electricity refunds because of market manipulation during the first few months of the energy crisis,...
The current power crisis offers an unparalleled, if not unfortunate, opportunity to rethink how we produce, consume, and value electricity in the Golden State. Electricity is a means to an end--a...[more]
2003 Note: This was written at the height of California's Power Crisis. Some who read this piece criticized it for not capturing the "true causes" of the crisis. I feel vindicated by later events,...[more]
California's power crisis occurred in 2000 and 2001. By 2002 the threat of rolling blackouts had effectively passed. However, the consequences for state electricity policy were profound. Much has...[more]
October, 2001 presentation to the League of Women Voters Energy Forum, Bakersfield, California It's quite a privilege to be on the same program as Richard Bilas. Dick is the kind of public...[more]
"California's Electricity Options and Challenges, Report to Governor Gray Davis," joint report of the Electricity Oversight Board and the Public Utilities Commission, undated. by Michael Kahn, and...[more]
"Cost Curve Analysis of the California Power Markets," JBS Energy, Sacramento, Calif. William Marcus and Greg Ruszovan, September 29, 2000. This is a technical report by two economists on...[more]
