Calif. consumers seek breaks before electricity-rate hike is decided.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

As state regulators prepare to decide in coming weeks who will bear the burden of a massive new electricity-rate hike, a long line is beginning to form of residents, business operators and others seeking a break.

The tiered plan proposed by Public Utilities Commission President Loretta Lynch exempts those who use no more than 130 percent of their ``baseline'' allotment. But other residents could see increases up to 36 percent, while commercial customers could pay even more.

Homeowners say there's no way they can save that much. Advocates for the poor and elderly are crying foul. Businesses say they're already unfairly burdened.

Residents now poring over their bills and baselines _ which are supposed to represent average usage _ are puzzled and frustrated. While regulators say almost half of housholds use no more than 130 percent of their baseline, many energy misers wonder just who those people could be.

``This just blows me away,'' said Ellen Finch of San Jose, Calif. ``I'm out of ways to save, short of turning everything off. How on earth does an average household function on the baseline rates? How many people does an average household have _ zero?''

The 45-year-old technical writer has cut down dishwashing to once a week and laundry to twice a week. She's pushed the thermostat down to 67 and put blankets on every chair. She's turned off lights and limited her computer, TV and stereo. Still, Finch says she's using up to twice her baseline amount and expects her bill to go up at least 9 percent, or about $12.

Utilities haven't yet calculated just how many residents would fall within the 130 percent. Estimates range from 30 to nearly 50 percent.