California Gov. Gray Davis is focused on anything but energythis week as he sorts through 1,400 pieces of new state legislationawaiting his signature by a Sept. 30 deadline, but he is expectedto re-focus on the simmering electricity issues next month,according to aides in Sacramento, CA.

“Energy has sort of been moved to the back burner right now,”said a press spokesperson in the governor’s office.

Gov. Davis has not decided whether to sign the lone remainingpiece of electricity legislation, a bill that would provide $150million in taxpayer relief to San Diego Gas and Electric Co. by2003 to help pay for some of its under-collections caused by otherrate stabilization measures signed into law earlier in the monththat re-freeze SDG&E rates below market levels. If the governordoes not act by the 30th, the bill dies.

In the long term, the California governor is considering holdingan energy summit in November or a special session of the statelegislature when it returns the first week in December to take careof administrative matters following the November elections. Gov.Davis’ “green team” of advisers established by one of the newelectricity laws is assessing these and other alternatives.

“The governor has said he will talk to the widest possible rangeof people from economists to energy companies, consumers,environmentalists, utilities and labor during October, and fromthose discussions he will decide how to address the electricityissue (longer term),” said the press spokesperson.

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