Reluctantly

Rate Hikes Salvage Utilities from Brink of Bankruptcy

Reluctantly and in the face of extraordinary pressure fromfinancial, utility and public officials, California regulators lastThursday took initial steps to unfreeze retail electricity ratesfor the state’s two largest investor owned utilities (IOUs) tobegin to cut into the $8 billion of debt dragging down the IOUssince mid-year. An unprecedented lobbying and public communicationseffort by the utilities preceded the action.

December 25, 2000

Rate Increases Salvage CA Utilities from Brink of Bankruptcy

Reluctantly and in the face of extraordinary pressure fromfinancial, utility and public officials, California regulatorsThursday took initial steps to unfreeze retail electricity ratesfor the state’s two largest investor owned utilities (IOUs) tobegin to cut into the $8 billion of debt dragging down the IOUssince mid-year. An unprecedented lobbying and public communicationseffort by the utilities preceded the action.

December 22, 2000