Praying for a cool August

SMOKE-FILLED rooms have long been banned in California, but its politicians are building up a good fug as they sweat over the state's electricity bills. On May 7th, record temperatures in the central part of the state brought the first power cuts for two months as too many people switched on their air-conditioners. Total demand was only about two-thirds of what it can reach in the summer, but, with several power stations out of action for maintenance, even a limited rush for cool air proved too much for the system.