Subject: california update # 2 ; 3 / 27 / 01
? item 5 b of the puc draft decision , which implements the 3 cent / kwh rate increase , has just passed unanimously . commissioner lynch stressed again that this rate increase can only be used by the utilities for power purchases going forward with the only exception being that the utilities must pay the state the money they owe for the power purchased by the dwr .
? the tiered rate structure was not debated or voted upon . lynch said that this cannot be decided until the rate structure is complete and the committee would work on this issue on an " expedited basis , " approximately 30 days .
? commissioners brown and wood explicitly thanked lynch for taking courageous leadership in spearheading this decision .