Maybe it isn`t such a bad idea after all

California`s electric companies appear to be tentatively embracing the Public Utilities Commission`s controversial industry restructuring plan: Retail wheeling would be acceptable - but only after an extended transition to minimize costs and restructure the state`s wholesale power market. Far from the expected flat-out rejection of the CPUC retail wheeling - also known as direct access - proposal, the utilities responses to the program, indicate they are beginning to adapt to the changing nature of their industry. The utilities, other power industry players, environmentalists, consumers and federal officials, will present their ideas to the CPUC during a two-day hearing in Los Angeles. But the sweeping industry changes the CPUC envisions must be put on a much slower track than the commission originally proposed, the utilities said.