31.   Once that happens, customers will be able to buy electricity at competitive market rates.

32.   Profits fell after a drought forced Colbun to buy electricity at a high cost from other generators in order to complete sales contracts.

33.   Several internal memoranda describe in detail strategies used by the traders to manipulate the markets in which California bought electricity during the crisis.

34.   Spinelli said that about a year ago the power authority stopped buying electricity, claiming it was too expensive.

35.   State consumers are currently on the hook for long-term contracts to buy electricity at rates that are now two to three times higher than current market prices.

36.   State officials said any urgency for an immediate order had disappeared recently after the state Department of Water Resources started buying electricity on behalf of the utilities.

37.   The aluminum company could then buy electricity at cost, which would make its metal even cheaper and more competitive, UES argues.

38.   The energy plan begins with modest steps such as requiring power plants to operate at full power and buying surplus electricity from other regions.

39.   The drought means the two companies will have to buy electricity from more expensive thermal power stations in order to fulfill their sales commitments, analysts said.

40.   The drought means the two companies will have to buy electricity from more expensive thermal power stations to fulfill their sales commitments, analysts said.