-Caveat Lector- Electric Scam Exposed - Demand lower in 4 of past 6 months than in 1999 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 19, 2001 10:59 AM CONTACT: Public Citizen Angela Bradbery (202) 588-7742 or (202) 588-7741 The Facts Are In: Electricity Demand in California Was Lower in Four of Past Six Months Than in 1999 Data Casts Doubt on Power Producers' Claims That Demand Has Fueled Higher Prices WASHINGTON - January 19 - Power demand during four of the past six months in California was lower than during the same period in 1999, indicating that California's power producers are misrepresenting the facts about energy demand to justify gouging the state's utilities, Public Citizen has concluded. Public Citizen analyzed system hourly load data compiled by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). CAISO uses this data to find out how much energy must come from various plants to meet California demand and records the highest amounts of demand by hour within the state of California. The data shows that while demand did soar in May, in four out of the past six months -- July, August, October and December -- California saw a lower peak demand than during the same months in 1999. "The facts are in, and they prove that power producers have been misrepresenting the energy crisis as caused by increased consumer demand," said Wenonah Hauter, director of Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy and Enviro nment Program. "Power producers want Californians to believe that consumers need to pay higher rates to encourage the construction of new power plants to meet the alleged higher demand. Our analysis reveals their ploy to soak consumers." With no increase in energy demand, a major contributor to the current crisis is that plants servicing California with 11,000 megawatts of capacity have been taken out of service for a variety of reasons, most undisclosed. Now, power producers are inappropriately citing increased demand to justify building new plants, and they are hoping to speed the process by suspending California's environment-friendly standards and blocking the ability of communities to oppose new plants. "The fact that demand in California is on par with previous years highlights power producers' attempts to circumvent environmental rules and local input on energy policy," Hauter said. While power producers acknowledge that many other factors are affecting prices, including demand in the entire western U.S., they have focused on California energy demand when justifying their high prices. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
