Native son you're right on. Part of the problem in California is major manipulation of the electricity markets by out-of-state (Texas!) owners of California power generating stations. They have a strong incentive not to generate (drive up prices on the spot market), and then to turn on the generators when the price reaches a certain (astronomical) level. It's an easy way to maximize profits at the expense of the retailers and ratepayers. The problem of course is that Pacific Northwest ratepayers get dragged into this mess because of the inter-state electrical grid is connected to the Columbia River power grid. We, and Columbia River salmon, end up paying a high price for California's botched attempt at deregulation and the Federal government's failure to curb manipulation of the CA market.

A sad situation but it's nothing compared to what may happen in CA this summer. Winter is their low period for power use. Peak power demands occurs in summer. Fasten your seatbelts, it's about to get worse....


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MSB