California Super Bowl viewers urged to save electricity January 23, 2001 Web posted at: 7:46 PM EST (0046 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Power officials have a suggestion for Californians who plan to watch the Super Bowl on TV: Do it with friends.

TV use most likely will surge during the Baltimore Ravens-New York Giants game Sunday as the power-starved state tries to avoid blackouts. Group viewing could ease the burden.

"I guess a lot of people around one set is a lot better than having a lot of sets on," said Patrick Dorinson, spokesman for California's Independent System Operator, which manages the state's power grid.

Last year's game between the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans was watched by an estimated 8 million viewers in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento.

A power outage could enrage football fans as well as those awaiting the first episode of "Survivor II: The Australian Outback," which follows the game on CBS.

"It's OK if the power goes out during the Super Bowl, but it better be back on before `Survivor' or somebody's going to get hurt," Marleen Madge said.

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/01/23/cal.power.super.bowl.ap/index.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), January 23, 2001