Environmental Defense Praises Governor's Initiative on Conservation

Governor Davis’s plan to pay customers for reducing their electricity use this summer is “the quickest, cleanest way to turn dollars into blackout protection,” according to Environmental Defense.

“Nearly all of the blackout risk comes this summer,” said Daniel Kirshner, a senior economist for Environmental Defense, “so a program targeted 100% at this summer is a savvy move.” Kirshner noted that an Environmental Defense analysis shows that the energy supply shortfall should almost disappear in 2002, and should certainly disappear after summer 2002 — making any emergency efforts with a longer time frame “not only misguided, but actively wasteful.”

The Davis order announced today is a simple dollars-for-savings plan — customers get rebates if they cut back their summer electricity use, no matter how they do it. “They can install better appliances; they can close the windows when the air conditioner is on; they can raise the air conditioner temperature a degree or two,” Kirshner said. “All of it will help.”

“Given the situation we face, this is the quickest, cleanest way to turn dollars into blackout protection,” Kirshner said. “And the money goes straight to customers’ pockets, instead of any in-betweens.”