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 n August 3, President Clinton directed all federal
agencies to do their part to help California meet its electricity
needs this summer. The President emphasized that, as one of the
largest consumers of electricity in California (representing
approximately 2% of total electricity use), the Federal Government
should take steps to reduce electricity consumption and increase
electricity availability. Increased demand for electricity during
the summer has made it challenging for California electric utilities
to meet the demand of their customers. According to estimates
by the Department of Energy, implementation of the measures announced
today would result in approximately a 5% reduction in electricity
use by federal facilities in California, helping reduce the risk
of an electricity shortage.
 President
Clinton directed federal agencies to take action to help the
state of California reduce electricity demand:
"Managers
of all Federal buildings in California should take steps to reduce
consumption of power to the maximum extent practicable consistent
with the health and welfare of employees; and, Federal agencies
should coordinate with state and local government agencies to
minimize the use of electricity in all government buildings in
California."
In addition,
president Clinton today directed federal agencies to take steps
to help California maximize available electricity. While most
of the electricity in the Western United States is generated
and marketed by privately and publicly owned utilities, the Federal
government also generates and markets electricity in the region.
For the duration of the current power shortage, President Clinton
is directing that:
"Federal
agencies that generate electricity take all possible measures
to maximize the amount of electricity that can be delivered to
California; The Federal Power Marketing Administrations take
all steps necessary to maximize the availability of electricity
in California; and, Federal agencies work with the state of California
to develop procedures governing the use of backup power generation
in power shortage emergencies."
The
President also directed federal agencies to continue to work
toward the goals of Executive Order 13123, Greening the Government
Through Efficient Energy Management, to help reduce federal consumption
of electricity. In addition, he urged federal agencies to continue
working with Congress on comprehensive electricity restructuring
legislation, which can promote greater investment in generation
and transmission facilities, and enhance the efficiency of the
interstate transmission grid; and on other initiatives to ensure
the availability of affordable and environmentally responsible
energy to meet America's energy needs in the 21st century.
Today's action
builds on ongoing efforts by the Department of Energy to plan
for reduced use of electricity in federal facilities. The Department
of Energy, and the General Services Administration, have worked
closely with federal agencies to develop plans to improve energy
efficiency for individual Federal facilities in support of local
electricity reduction efforts. Key components of this effort
include specific identification of short- and long-term electricity
load reduction measures in a facility, monitoring of total facility
demand, strengthened coordination with local utilities, and enhanced
communications with employees about benefits of and best practices
for increased energy efficiency. 
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