July 23, 2001—A recent survey by J.D. Power and Associates, finds that 83% of Californians claim to be taking steps to reduce their energy usage in order to combat rate increases and to help reduce the potential of rolling blackouts. Of these, nearly three-quarters said they have reduced use of indoor lights and almost one-half have reduced their outdoor lighting. Four out of 10 of those conserving indicated that they have limited their use of heating or air conditioning, while 34% have unplugged extra TVs and refrigerators.
The special report from J.D. Power and Associates indicates that Californians are currently paying an average of $102 per month for electricity, up 36% from 2000, when the average was $75 per month. Almost three-quarters of respondents expect to pay 40% more on their electric bills next year.
57% of Californians support building more power plants and they are willing to pay for it. When asked how they would allocate their portion if the state taxed every resident $10.00 to avoid future power problems, Californians responded that they would invest $5.14 to build more power plants, $2.80 to encourage energy conservation, and $2.01 to reduce electric rates. For information about purchasing the 50-page summary of the research, visit J.D. Power.
