Getting a little hot under the collar

Re “Heat Stretches Power Network to the Limit,” July 25

With record temperatures pushing the region’s electric power grid dangerously close to its limit, citizens are rightly being asked to conserve electricity during peak demand hours. One guideline asks residents to set their air-conditioning thermostats in the mid- to high 70s. At the same time, some retail stores (the shops that prompted this letter are in Old Town Pasadena) set their thermostats well below 70 and keep their doors wide open. Obviously this is intended to entice passersby to step in from the heat and possibly do some shopping. With the hardships that blackouts -- rolling or otherwise -- bring, this blatant wasting of our finite electric capacity is unconscionable.

Some businesses apparently can’t be expected to do the right thing and behave as responsible members of society. Our lawmakers should consider legislation that would levy heavy fines for such unnecessary and reckless waste.

ERIK NASH

South Pasadena

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As my family and I and thousands of other L.A. Department of Water and Power customers endured our third sweltering night without electricity, I wondered if a policy of involuntary energy conservation was being imposed on us.

If Los Angeles sets new records for energy demand again as is expected, those of us without power simply cannot add to the burden. If the utility avoids rolling blackouts, I hope it doesn’t have the audacity to brag about the accomplishment, because it certainly won’t be achieved as the result of any foresight or planning.

DAVID FLECK

Granada Hills

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During this time of serious electrical shortages, how much does it cost to keep all of those message boards on our freeways lighted with their useless reminders to save energy? If we are truly serious about saving energy, turn them off as an example.

JOHN JOHNSON

Covina

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Now that we have had plenty of power problems, it has occurred to some of us that the last governor took a lot of heat for not providing more power plants, even though electric companies have made a lot of money on the backs of consumers. Well, a few years later -- and a new governor -- we still have power problems. I guess it’s “deja vu all over again” -- same story, different players. I don’t hear any complaints about this latest mess and the new governor who has not solved this problem.

GENE T. SOLIS

Anaheim