The Clinton administration will announce today a “plan” or “listof principles” for restructuring the electricity industry. “It canbe introduced as legislation. It’s written in legislative language.This is what everyone’s been waiting for,” said Bill Wicker, aspokesman for the Department of Energy.

“I’m not sure that’s going to cut it with [Sen. Frank. H.]Murkowski,” said Martin Edwards of the Interstate Natural GasAssociation of America (INGAA). Earlier this month, the AlaskaRepublican warned Energy Secretary Federico Pena that he wanted tosee an administration bill in “black and white,” and that a list ofprinciples would not be enough.

“I would like to move forward with restructuring legislation,but the administration must become an active partner in thisprocess,” said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and NaturalResources Committee. “Yet if DOE intends merely on submittingtalking points it will signal that the administration is notserious about deregulating the electric industry.”

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