ENERGY

Edison Asks PUC to Throw Out Contracts: Southern California Edison Co. appealed to the California Public Utilities Commission to overturn the agency’s requirement that Edison sign power contracts with a group of independent electricity producers. The independents, many of whom produce power from renewable sources such as wind, geothermal and biomass, won a PUC-mandated auction just before the PUC announced its plan to introduce competition to the state’s electric utility industry. The independents want the auction contracts signed, saying they are an example of such competition. Edison argues that it doesn’t need more electricity, particularly if it faces increased competition. Edison’s next step--deemed “a high likelihood if not a certainty” by Don Fellows, Edison manager of non-utility power purchases--will be to sue the PUC to stop the contract signing.