SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Rolling blackouts and skyrocketing electricity rates are putting the political squeeze on Gov. Gray Davis, just as he prepares his re-election campaign and weighs a shot at the White House.

Polls had found Californians didn't blame Davis for the energy crisis. But that was before Tuesday, when the Public Utilities Commission approved record rate hikes of up to 46 percent — increases Davis had repeatedly said wouldn't be needed.

It's just the weakness political foes have been looking for.

"He's the face of the problem right now and so he is going to be the target," said Nancy Snow, a political scientist at the University of California at Los Angeles.

The state GOP has lashed out at the first-term governor for four widespread power outages, dubbing them "Gray-outs," and is launching an all-out effort to blame Davis for the rate increases. Davis' first major challenger in 2002, GOP Secretary of State Bill Jones, is already making energy a campaign centerpiece.

A top state financial official and fellow Democrat, Controller Kathleen Connell, says Davis' decision to buy power for the state's two largest utilities — Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric — is putting the state in financial danger.

The state has pledged to issue at least $10 billion in revenue bonds to buy power for SoCal Edison and PG&E — bonds that would be repaid by the utilities' customers. However, state officials have told lawmakers that state efforts to help the utilities could hit $23 billion by 2003.

Even Democratic lawmakers are privately grumbling about Davis' handling of the crisis as consumer groups threaten a revolt at the ballot box.

The electricity increases unanimously approved Tuesday by the PUC came on top of already-approved hikes of 9 percent to 15 percent, and a 10 percent increase planned next year. The commission said the increases would reduce power use this summer and help keep the two cash-strapped utilities in business.

Davis spokesman Steve Maviglio said the governor opposes a rate increase but has no power to order the PUC to maintain current rates.

In a statement Tuesday, Davis, who appointed three of the PUC's five members, called the commission's action "premature."

"We do not have all the appropriate financial numbers necessary to make a decision. Until we do, I cannot support any rate increase," the governor said. "While I have opposed rate increases, if it becomes clear that a rate increase is absolutely necessary for the good of the state, I will support one that is fair and do my duty to convince Californians of its necessity."

The national attention the power problems draw raises Davis' name recognition around the country — for better or worse — as he considers whether to make a presidential run in 2004.

He has been making the rounds on the national TV news and Sunday morning talk shows to explain why the lights have been going out in California.

Davis also has attempted to shield himself by saying he inherited the energy problems: then-Republican Gov. Pete Wilson signed the 1996 utility deregulation bill largely blamed for the crisis, and California went years with no new power plants.

Even with the energy crisis, Republicans have their work cut out for them in 2002.

The state GOP, caught amid infighting between moderates and conservatives, is in the minority in the Legislature. Republicans hold just one statewide office, and must come up with millions to match the nearly $26 million Davis had raised nearly two years before the election.

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The governor's political campaign is taking bites out of Davis' critics as well. Garry South, Davis' chief political adviser, issued a statement Tuesday saying Jones had failed to put forth his own solution to the state's energy woes.

"Put your megawatts where your mouth is," South said.


On the Net:

Governor's site: www.governor.ca.gov

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