Students and employees aren't feeling the energy crisis on campus. But that's only because of some extraordinary steps the university has taken to keep the lights on. Still the crisis is affecting the campus deeply-in the pocketbook.

Redlands and many other institutions in California years ago joined the state's interruptible rate plan called the "I-6." That meant that the campus could be called upon to reduce power during peak usage times when electricity providers, in Redlands' case Southern California Edison, otherwise would have to buy expensive, peak usage power. Under the plan, institutions that failed to cut power sufficiently would be penalized, with the price of a kilowatt hour of power going from 7 cents to $9.

The program never had affected the campus too severely until this academic year. During 2000, for example, Edison called upon Redlands to reduce power a total of 15 times. The total calls this January alone already number 11. In years past, most of these calls came during the summer when the bulk of students were away and it was not difficult to reduce power use.

"We thought we were being good citizens by helping reduce our use of power during those peak times," said Phil Doolittle, vice president for finance and administration.

In addition, the university protected itself by contracting with an insurance company for a policy whereby the campus would be reimbursed a percentage of any fines.

With the growing energy crisis and failed deregulation process in California, all this has changed. Universities and other institutions have accrued millions of dollars in penalties since the crisis began in late 1999. In some cases, colleges have tried to lessen the impact by canceling classes and shutting down offices.

Not so at Redlands, where most of the campus now is operating on generator power.

"As a residential campus, we have responsibility for the lives and well-being of our students," said President James Appleton. "We can't tell our students to go home for the day when they live in cities from San Francisco to New York. Our campus is their home, providing them with room, board and a safe environment as well as classrooms."

During the week of Jan. 14, the university would have been penalized $262,000. The use of a generator (costing about $80,000 per month in rental and fuel charges) on the west side of the campus, reduced this amount to $25,000 for the buildings on the east side still powered by Edison.

In all, the crisis has resulted in fines at Redlands of $213,000. Doolittle estimates that the impact of the energy crisis this fiscal year could be as much as $700,000, including penalties, generator use, and increased power rates and legal fees. Yes, legal fees, given that the aforementioned insurance company has suggested it is not going to honor claims that reportedly have reached $40 million statewide.

As of Friday, Jan. 26, the Public Utilities Commssion called a halt to the I-6 program and is not allowing Southern California Edison to bill its I-6 clients for the month of January. It remains uncertain, however, what penalties will have to be paid and what new rates may be. The campus has returned to Edison power but will keep one generator here for the time being as a precaution.

Doolittle is chairing a newly formed consortium of 14 Southern California independent schools working to find a solution to today's supply and cost issues. The Power Alliance of Southern California Independent Colleges and Universities will work with Edison, the Public Utilities Commission and the state Legislature.

"The rules have changed quickly and severely, with the state's ability to educate our students at risk," Doolittle said. "We refuse to burden our students or our endowment with expenses brought upon us by a system that has gone out of control."

New campus maps are now available. The updated maps include the science center buildings. Stop by the Public Relations Office or call ext. 4070 to get campus map pads.

Leslie Brody, assistant professor of English, will read from her works during the University of California, Riverside 24th Annual Writers Week. Her reading will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Humanities 1500. Brody is the author of "Red Star Sister," which received a PEN Center West Award in 1999. The week will include a dozen prominent novelists, poets and creative writers, including T. Coraghessan Boyle, author of "The Road to Wellville," and Susan Vreeland, author of "Girl in Hyacinth Blue."

Employees interested in participating in this year's American Cancer Society's Relay for Life April 28-29 at Redlands East Valley High School should contact last year's team captains. Call Elaine Pahia at ext. 4587 or Jill Walker at ext. 5228 to get involved.