EFFECTS OF THE ENERGY CRISIS ON SMALL BUSINESS
Survey of 1,027 California members of the National Federation of Independent Business by the organization.
Eighty-one percent said they have experienced rate increases since 1998. Of those, 26% said their bills have increased more than 30%. Asked what effects these increases would have on their businesses, 23% said they would curb new hiring; 16% said they’d cut employer-paid benefits; 15% said they’d cut operating expenses and 10% said there would be no impact.
