Mr. Bartels was an electrical engineer by training and had become, at 26, one of the top utility regulators in Vermont.

For utility regulators, the message is that "rates of return currently being requested by utilities in pending rate cases may be excessive," the report said.

Although it varies by state around the nation, utility regulators generally define a momentary power loss as one lasting one to five minutes.

A New York State court upheld the power of utility regulators to set electric rates to encourage conservation rather than higher consumption.

On March 4, 1931, New Jersey's public utility regulators ordered the two companies consolidate operations.

Mrs. Whitman, who was once the chief utility regulator for the state, replied that people lived near gas lines all over the country.

It is due to new controls announced by the utility regulator.

Oregon's utility regulators, however, would not have the authority to inspect the books of Texas Pacific itself.

Nor could city officials say if they had ever shared their concerns about Con Edison's preparedness with utility regulators.

Ms. Acampora tried to reassure the lawmakers that utility regulators were determined to avoid another blackout.