Windmills produce power in Desert Hot Springs, Calif. Though the energy situation is causing some bumps for the world's sixth largest market, the Golden State still burns brightly for many businesses.

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rownouts, power glitches, rolling blackouts -- nightmarish words for today's energy-dependent operations. Unfortunately, these words have become reality for many California businesses. In an effort to keep these businesses under its economic umbrella, the state of California has taken steps to help businesses and residents survive.
      On July 3, Gov. Gray Davis proposed an electricity voltage drop during the summer months to stave off rolling blackouts. The state's three major utilities -- Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. -- agreed to lower the voltage delivered to most homes and businesses by 2.5 percent, dropping from 120 volts to 117.
      The new voltage levels could save as much as 500 megawatts during hot summer days, while having a minimal effect on office machinery, computers and appliances. Most machines, appliances and computers are designed to operate at 114 to 126 volts, explains Bill Winnerling, area manager for power quality for the Palo Alto-based Electric Power Research Institute.
      "It's a no-brainer," says Eric Heitz, executive vice president of the San Francisco-based nonprofit Energy Foundation. "It won't affect most machinery. It won't be a problem for most businesses. Would you rather do this, or would you rather do a blackout?"