Residents may once again be hit with blackouts. : A growing number of Californians ditching utility companies for alternative power sources is pushing the state onto the brink of a second energy crisis, regulators warn. California prides itself as a national leader when it comes to alternative energy production and distribution. The state implements a broad array of “environmentally friendly” programs for electricity consumers. Net metering, community choice aggregation (CCA), and Direct Access are among the top choices. These programs have proven attractive with a populace wishing to buck the state’s investor-owned utilities.