SPEECH SETS OFF SPARKS.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

Reaction among San Fernando Valley legislators to Gov. Gray Davis' call for a wide range of measures to solve the state's energy crisis split along party lines, with Democrats praising the governor and Republicans saying it was too little, too late.

``Generally I found it disappointing and uninspiring,'' said state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Granada Hills. ``There is still no coherent policy within the administration on this critical issue. There was not one word about immediate relief for families facing price spirals. Not a word about all the impediments government has placed in the way of power construction and generation in California.''

McClintock, one of many legislators tackling the energy crisis, introduced a bill Friday to give a $530 tax rebate to every ratepayer - including those who live in Los Angeles and other cities that have been exempt from the rate crisis because they have their own power plants. The bill would cost the state about $5 billion.

Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, however, praised the governor for making it clear the energy crisis is real.

``It contained the things I wanted to hear in terms of its tone,'' Hertzberg said. ``So few people in California understand this crisis is real, but it is real and I think the governor set that tone.''

Hertzberg, Davis and other state officials will head to the White House today to meet with Cabinet officials and power generators to try to get generators to provide more supply in California.

Hertzberg will return Thursday for a special session of the Legislature to deal with the energy crisis. On Monday, Hertzberg created a special committee on energy.

Hertzberg and several other Democrats criticized McClintock's plan as an expensive, short-term measure that doesn't go to the heart of the problem - the shortage of supply.

Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Northridge, who is the only San Fernando Valley legislator on the special committee, said he wished the governor had heeded Republicans' call for a special session to deal with the energy problem in September.

Also, he was cautious about the state getting too involved in the power business.

``I think we need to be very careful about government getting into the business of owning the power generation facilities,'' Richman said. ``As soon as we do that, we will send a chill through the private market, and they will be very hesitant to invest in California in new generating facilities.''

Assemblyman Tony Cardenas, D-Mission Hills, agreed with most of the governor's points. But, as budget chairman, Cardenas noted that whatever solution is drafted will be expensive. In his speech, Davis called for setting aside at least $1 billion in state funds to help stabilize the supply and price of electricity.