RUNNER PROPOSES RESCUE POWER PLANS HURTING SCHOOLS.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Assemblyman George Runner George C. Runner, Jr. (born March 25 1952 in Scotia, New York) is a Republican California State Senator, who represents the 17th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County and Ventura County. said Monday he will seek legislation to free schools and colleges caught in ``interruptible-service'' contracts that during power shortages require them to shut down or pay electricity rates more than 100 times normal. To avoid paying skyrocketing energy bills, Antelope Valley Union High School District The Antelope Valley Union High School District (A.V.U.H.S.D.) is located in the Antelope Valley area of California, in northern Los Angeles County. The district includes eight public high schools, one trade school, and two continuation high schools in the cities of Palmdale is sending students home early this week, and Antelope Valley College Antelope Valley College is a comprehensive community college located in Lancaster, California, USA. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. has moved most intersession in·ter·ses·sion n. The time between two academic sessions or semesters. in  ter·ses classes into one building and is renting a diesel-powered auxiliary generator. ``The last thing we need to do is have an electricity crisis grow into an educational crisis,'' said Runner, R-Lancaster, who held a joint press conference with high school district officials. High school district officials expect electric bills have amounted to $575,000 since last July, $400,000 last week alone, officials said. College officials estimate that they spent $100,000 extra last week alone, despite shutting down campus offices. The high school district and community college signed up for the interruptible program with Southern California Edison Southern California Edison (or SCE Corp), the largest subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE: EIX), is the primary electricity supply company for much of Southern California. It provides 11 million people with electricity. before the energy crisis hit - the high school district in 1988, the college at least 10 years ago, officials said. The campuses received cheaper electricity prices in return for a promise to stop electricity use during shortages. If they decide to keep using power after the state declares an emergency shortage of power reserves, the campuses pay higher rates. The high school district rate jumps from 8 cents per kilowatt hour Kil´o`watt` hour 1. (Elec.) A unit of work or energy equal to that done by one kilowatt acting for one hour; - approximately equal to 1.34 horse-power hour. Noun 1. to $9.30 per kilowatt hour; the college from 7 cents to $9 an hour. Participants normally are allowed to pull out of the program each year in November, but the state Public Utilities Commission in October temporarily suspended the opt-out provision until March 31. Runner also said another option that should be considered is providing financial assistance to schools with high energy costs through a revolving loan fund A Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) is a source of money from which loans are made for small business development projects. A loan is made to one person or business at a time and, as repayments are made, funds become available for new loans to other businesses. . The high school district announced last week that it was sending students home early starting last Friday through all of this week to avoid paying excessive electric bills. The district had already scheduled minimum days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week because of final exams. Superintendent Robert Girolamo said schools will return to their regular schedules next week, depending on how many interruptions the district goes through this week and the cost associated with those. Under the contract, Edison can request shutdowns 25 times a year at each of the six comprehensive high schools, for up to six hours each, Girolamo said. So far, there have been 12 at Antelope Valley High School Antelope Valley High School is located in Lancaster, California and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. It was founded in 1912[1]. It is located in the Mojave Desert. , and 11 at the other schools since January, Girolamo said. The high school district's total electric bill would amount to $3 million if Edison requests each school to power down 25 times for the maximum of six hours. ``There's a $3 million penalty attached to that. That drastically affects our budget,'' Girolamo said. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) George Runner Assemblyman (2) Robert Giorlamo District Superintendent District Superintendent may be:
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