Edison And Small Generators Strike Deal (KFWB) --

Small power generators have approved an agreement with Southern California Edison, and will keep pumping out power this summer. The generators are known as "qualifying facilities" or QFs.

"This agreement will ensure every available megawatt of power is online this summer at reasonable prices. This agreement represents another important step in resolving California's energy crisis," Davis said in a statement.

"We believe this agreement will help bring stability to an important segment of California's energy market," Stephen E. Frank, Edison's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

California's Public Utilities Commission tentatively approved the deal last week. The PUC may have to sign off on some details of the final deal, Edison said.

It offers stable rates of 5.37 cents per kilowatt-hour for generators using renewable sources of power -- such as wind and solar energy.

QFs representing about 95 percent of Edison's renewable energy capacity signed contracts Tuesday, Edison said.

Small generators account for one-third of the state's power supply.

-- PHO (owennos@bigfoot.com), June 20, 2001

Answers

Oh, goody, this means the small generators will now have time to fire up their plants and be ready for full production in October, just in time to miss the coming summer heat-crunch. (Nobody seems to think in terms of "lead time" anymore).

Right now I'd rather be living ANYWHERE but in California.

-- JackW (jpayne@webtv.net), June 20, 2001.

Big deal! Didn't I read where solar and wind power account for but 2% of California's power? If so, this is a drop in the energy bucket.

-- RogerT (rogerT@c-zone.net), June 20, 2001.