re: Deregulation
Here’s what I understand about CA:
1. The energy companies have NOT been deregulated, it’s the companies that produce and sell energy to those companies (PG&E and Edison).
2. The deregulation affects the energy companies like this: They have to pay more for energy. Lots more. But California law dictates that these energy companies cannot pass the same ridiculously high rates on to consumers (to an extent).. hence a: the lack of energy in CA due to the energy companies not being able to afford it from those that produce it, and b: higher energy bills, despite lack of energy.
So… the problem stems from those producing the energy having the freedom and audacity to charge whatever the hell they want, and the companies that buy from them being legally bound to not charge nearly as much as they pay for it. So had the sector not EVER been regulated in the first place… that might have helped, but now deregulation IS where all these problems come from. I think actually that the real problem is that PG&E (or at least SDG&E) made a choice earlier to not produce the energy they sell. If that CA law stating that electricity cannot be charged over a certain amount, the problem would still be around, because consumers would have insane bills (like $600/month), which they wouldn’t be able to pay, forcing the energy-sellers to fall deeper into debt anyhow. So I feel that deregulation really is the source of this problem, if only indirectly… by allowing those with the power (no pun intended) to be greedy fucks.