Michael R Peevey

Regarding the article "PUC Opens State to Competition for Energy Customers," and James Flanigan's column of May 7: I am a former utilities engineer with 37 years' experience. The main emphasis in California has been that we have electric rates 50% higher than the rest of the nation, but there is never a discussion as to why. The PUC has mandated, in years past, that alternate power suppliers such as windmill and geothermal be allowed to sell power to the utilities at a much higher rate than the user pays.

State regulators have reversed themselves on broadband telephone calling and ceded oversight to the federal government -- a move that critics fear will leave California customers with little recourse for poor or faulty service. The state Public Utilities Commission voted 3 to 1 behind closed doors late last week to pull out of its appeal of a Federal Communications Commission rule designating so-called voice over Internet protocol as an interstate service beyond state control.

Regarding "Natural Gas From Overseas Sources Is Raising Concerns," Sept. 21: The California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to approve my order establishing natural-gas quality standards for investor-owned utilities, including Southern California Gas Co. With liquefied natural gas expected to enter our state within the next two years, it is crucial that we act now to put in place more restrictive natural gas quality specifications to...

Low-income families would get a chance to reduce their electric bills and help combat global warming if Southern California Edison Co. wins approval from state regulators to give away 6 million low-energy lightbulbs. The Rosemead-based electric company said Thursday that it was seeking permission from the California Public Utilities Commission to start a $22-million program to distribute six-packs of power-stingy compact fluorescent bulbs to 1 million homes across the Southland.

Saying Proposition 187 would take an economic and moral toll on California, several leading business executives Thursday spoke out against the ballot measure that would deny many public services, including schools and non-emergency medical care, to illegal immigrants. "It's flawed legislation if you deal with the issue of the numbers," said Michael Rossi, a vice chairman of Bank of America, at a Downtown news conference.

Three months after a state report criticized local telephone service in California, two Public Utilities Commission members issued an alternative view Wednesday that describes service as good to excellent. The dissenting analysis by Commissioner Susan P. Kennedy and PUC President Michael R. Peevey sets the stage for a showdown next month as the commission considers stricter oversight of the state's dominant local carriers, SBC Communications Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.

Gov. Pete Wilson met Wednesday with President Carlos Salinas de Gortari and endorsed the Mexican leader's "vigorous and effective" steps to open his country to freer trade with the United States. Starting two days of talks here aimed at boosting California exports to a growing Mexican market, Wilson pledged to work with Salinas to secure U.S. approval of a North American Free Trade Agreement that will permanently link the two countries' economies.

California regulators Wednesday tentatively blessed two giant telephone industry mergers, but customers won't see much of the billions of dollars the companies expect to save. SBC Communications Inc.'s $16-billion acquisition of AT&T Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc.'s $8.5-billion purchase of MCI Inc. could reduce their expenses in the state by a combined total of up to $2.7 billion, consumer advocates say.

California regulators have scrapped proposed rate-making rules for the state's biggest private water companies after consumer advocates complained they were written by industry lawyers. The action came after the Public Utilities Commission's consumer advocate complained that the agency's chief water regulator based the proposed rules on a document from a law firm employed by the California Water Assn.

A drive to eliminate much of the last vestiges of conventional home telephone regulation by the state won a key endorsement Tuesday from a Senate committee. Under the bill, state regulators would no longer analyze a proposed phone company merger to determine, for instance, if it is in the public interest or if part of the merger's savings should be returned to customers. Sen.