ENERGY

Edison Signs More Side Deals With Power Generators: Southern California Edison Co. said it has negotiated options to buy electricity from three more of the independent energy producers that previously won power-purchase contracts from Edison under an auction mandated by the California Public Utilities Commission. Edison, which is contesting the auction, has long contended that it does not need the new power, which it estimates would cost ratepayers $200 million to $300 million more a year. Edison signed a similar deal last month with Kenetech Corp., a windmill energy producer. Wednesday’s deal with U.S. Generating Co.--an independent power producer owned by subsidiaries of Bechtel Group Inc. and Pacific Gas & Electric Co.--is for an option to buy 372 megawatts of power. Edison also said it has bought out the auction contracts won by two smaller producers--BTI Chino, a biomass energy company, and Mammoth Pacific, a geothermal producer. Edison wants the PUC to accept these deals in place of the 30-year auction contracts that would force it to buy power.