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Examines how electricity traders at Enron drove up electricity prices during the California power crisis. Questionable techniques that contributed to power shortages, according to Enron documents; Types of strategies used by traders; Argument of California officials that Enron and other power marketers manipulated the state's market, costing consumers and utilities tens of billions of dollars in 2000 and 2001; Request for a criminal investigation by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Reports that United States regulators have ordered that restraints on electricity prices in California be applied at all hours and extended to ten other Western states, as part of efforts to control the power crisis. Hope of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that the extended price limitations will prevent electricity suppliers from exporting their power out of California; Response to the decision, which was unanimously supported by the bipartisan commission; Political implications of price controls.

Focuses on the impact of order released by the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the financial issues surrounding the energy crisis in California.

Focuses on Duke Energy, a power-generating company that has been accused of overcharging customers during California's energy crisis. How Duke Energy is discussing a settlement with California Governor Gray Davis, which would stop any investigation into the matter of overcharging customers; How Duke Energy would offer power at a substantially lower rate on the condition that they would not have to admit any wrong doing; Outlook.

Discusses criticism of how federal regulators oversee United States utilities. Criticism faced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, whose mission is to ensure the fairness of electricity rates across the countries; Discovery that some utilities had been overcharging California for power; Choices which the commission faced, in fixing the problem; Controversy in light of California's electricity crisis. INSET: Some Evidence of Overcharges, by Jeff Gerth.

Reports on some evidence of overcharges for wholesale electricity in California.