Poll: Energy Crisis? What Energy Crisis?
California residents have faced both electric power outages and high-energy prices this year, but they are still skeptical that the shortage they face is real. However, most don't expect energy problems to end anytime soon, and nearly all say they have taken steps lately to conserve energy, but the situation has hurt their perceptions of both President Bush and California Gov. Gray Davis.
Forty-eight percent of Californians believe that there really are energy shortages, but nearly as many, 44 percent, say instead that they are just being told there are shortages. Better-educated and younger Californians are most likely to think the energy shortage is real.
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| IS THE ENERGY SHORTAGE REAL? | ||
| Yes | No | |
48% | 44% | |
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Whether or not it's real, Californians are ready to assess blame, and it's the state government, not the energy companies, that is more likely to be held most responsible. Forty percent cite the state government, and 33 percent the power companies for California's energy problems. Hardly any one blames consumers.
Republicans are more likely to blame the state government, with Democrats more likely to blame power companies.
Opinions about both the president and the California governor have been hurt by the energy problems. Just 29 percent approve of the way President Bush has handled the electricity situation in California, and just 38 percent approve of the way Gov. Davis is handling it. Those numbers are not much different than those found by a Los Angeles Times poll conducted at the end of June.
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| HANDLING CALIFORNIA'S ELECTRICITY SITUATION | ||
| Approve | Disapprove | |
| Bush | 29% | 59% |
| Approve | Disapprove | |
| Davis | 38% | 50% |
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Evaluations of the two leaders' performance in this area is lukewarm, even among each leader's own party members. Just under half of Democrats approve of the way Davis has handled the electricity problem, while 46 percent of Republicans approve of the way Mr. Bush is handling it.
CONSERVATION SUCCESSES
One surprise in the last few months has been the conservation effort made by Californians, who have cut back on electric use by 12 percent statewide. In fact, nearly all those interviewed claimed to have made some cutbacks - only 10 percent said they had not cut back use recently.
When asked what they have done to conserve electricity, most Californians could name very specific actions. Many are either not using their air conditioners at all, or setting them to higher temperatures. Use of electricity in general and appliances such as washers and driers is increasingly being done during off-peak hours, and many report they are turning out lights more, or have switched to lower watt or fluorescent bulbs.
Like the country as a whole, by a large margin Californians say the government's priority should be encouraging conservation over increasing the production of petroleum, coal and natural gas. Forty-nine percent think conservation should be the government's priority, while 28 percent think increasing production should be most important. All groups agreed with this ranking, including California's Republicans, who think encouraging conservation should come first over increasing production, by 43 percent to 31 percent.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
Californians are pessimistic about the chances of electricity problems ending anytime soon. More than two-thirds think the current problems will continue for at least a year. Even though the temperate summer weather and conservation has meant no rolling blackouts in the last month, only 4 percent think the problem will be over soon.
One thing Californians definitely would like to see is help from the federal government. By more than two to one, Californians say they would like the federal government to help. Even epublicans favor intervention, a position generally opposed by the Bush administration. Fifty percent of California Republicans say the federal government should be involved, while 44 percent say the California energy situation is a state problem the federal government should stay out of.
This poll was conducted among a sample of 443 adults in the state of California. Interviews were conducted by telephone July 16-17, 2001. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus five percentage points on results based on the statewide sample.
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