Agreed that this story is specifically about HP and other companies and their lack of power savings, but it goes much further than that. The majority opinion down there is that there is no "shortage" and so they are continuing their overuse of electricity. Tom Leykis has done at least one radio show so far saying he doesn't believe in the shortage and he then encourages everyone to use as much electricity as possible.

My wife and I still haven't used our AC even with our little ones, instead choosing to go to friends and familys houses to indulge in their AC so the kids won't get sick from the heat.

It doesn't help that we are in a drought. What makes it worse are these companies and private individuals that refuse to pick up their share of the burdon.