"Re-regulating" Power Initiative On the Ballot

Lost amongst the hoopla of the governor's poor poll numbers was the fact that the eighth and final voter initiative qualified for November's special election. Itssponsors call it a "re-regulation and blackout avoidance" initiative. Which I guess means that if you oppose it you are pro-blackouts and anti-regulation.

Actually, the SacBee properly notes:

Despite the convenient labels, California never really deregulated electricity
when the state Legislature changed the ground rules of the once-monopoly
business in 1996.

Now, the ballot measure wouldn't really re-regulate, although
the consumer group promoting it likes to call it a "re-regulation and blackout
avoidance" initiative.

What it would do is thwart any expansion of something called "direct access," a way that big businesses and other power users can bolt from their utilities and buy power from independent providers.

The support/opposition roundup so far is as follows:

• The Gov. and the states large for-profit utilities have not taken a stance on the position.
• Business consumers are opposing it. Additionally, CalEnergyBlog reports CPUC President Michael Peevey will oppose it.
• The Alliance for a More Unionized, err, Better California is supporting the measure.

I don't know about you, but I tend to get worried when I see an initiative brought to the ballot by a "San Francisco-based consumer group" that limits economic choice and policy options......

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Blog