Philosophical

Split by growing philosophical differences and what role markets should play in the state’s energy industry, California regulators earlier this month cranked out actions on a number of seemingly routine issues, but only after much debate and narrow votes.

Split by growing philosophical differences and what role markets should play in the state’s energy industry, California regulators last Thursday cranked out actions on a number of seemingly routine issues, but only after much debate and narrow 3-2 votes won by a majority of the regulatory panel’s three newest members, including its president, Michael Peevey.

The philosophical split on the California Public Utility Commission surfaced again last Monday in a year-end business wrap-up meeting in which a more than year-old order for implementing a Southern California Gas Co. settlement leading to the restructuring of its markets was effectively “nullified,” in the words of one of the state regulators.

The contentiousness and philosophical split among the five member California regulatory commission surfaced again Monday in a year-end business wrap-up meeting in which the more than year-old order for implementing a Southern California Gas Co. settlement leading to the restructuring of its markets has been effectively “nullified,” in the words of one of the state regulators.