Fearful of the blackouts and price spikes that have afflicted California, most other states expect to slow or even halt efforts to deregulate their electricity markets, according to a survey of utility regulators that is to be released late this week.

The FERC has largely soft-pedaled its role as the electricity industry's top cop, even though it has wide authority to keep power companies in line.

A novel plan by federal regulators to control California's runaway electricity prices is a messy, politically motivated compromise that may offer some relief to consumers but will do little to fix the state's dysfunctional energy market, analysts said.