SHARING THE ENERGY CITIES OF POWER PLENTY CUT BACK TO AID OTHERS.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Accountant Carol Bartold well remembers the energy crisis of the 1970s: the endless line at the gas pump, her freezing dorm room and the freeway speed limit plunging from 70 to 55 mph.

Those events made such an impression on her that she kept conserving gas and electricity long after the decade had passed. And even though Glendale is not experiencing the woes plaguing other parts of the state, she's conscience of the energy she does use.

``It's nice that we don't have to worry but I don't want to be smug because things can change in about two seconds,'' said Bartold, 47. ``I try not to leave my computer on all day, the way I used to. I only turn it on as long as I need it.''

The cities of Glendale, Burbank and Los Angeles are currently in a good position to weather the crisis. Each generates its own power and is not part of the California Independent System Operator grid. In fact, the cities are selling their excess electricity to other utilities.

Glendale Water and Power officials said they have been trying to get their residents and businesses to conserve but they won't know whether the message has had an effect until they can compare usage over a few months.

``We're not on a crusade or anything,'' said Bill Hall, GWP electrical services administrator. ``We're just reminding them that it's not only financially good for them with lower bills, but it does have a side effect. They feel they can help a little bit.''

But Burbank Water and Power officials said customers used 10 to 15 megawatts less than expected during peak times last summer, as word of a looming energy crisis began to spread.

Fred Fletcher, BWP assistant general manager, said he had no specific figures, but thought that residents and larger users seem to be getting the message to turn the lights off.

``There is becoming a general consciousness that there is a problem of a serious nature and there is a crisis in California,'' Fletcher said. ``In the short term we can rely on that. In the longer term, we're going to have to look beyond that.''

Looking beyond means looking to this summer, when power usage normally soars with the temperatures. While the city can generate its own power, it buys about 15 percent of its supplies on the open market when the temperatures top 90 degrees.

Fletcher said some of the conservation efforts would include asking customers to put lights on automatic timers so they are turned off when not in use. Or to replace old air conditioners with more energy-efficient models and run swimming pool motors at night, during off-peak hours.

The city, he said, should be the model for conservation.

``If there are more visual reminders to people, if they drive by and see the lights off, they see some of the things we're doing to conserve electricity, I think it could be contagious,'' Fletcher said.