Deputy Energy Secretary Elizabeth Moler declined to comment lastweek on whether she’s being seriously considered as a successor toEnergy Secretary Federico Pena, who plans to leave at the end ofJune. “I don’t know,” she said abruptly. Another name beingmentioned for the job is Bill Richardson, currently U.S.Representative to the United Nations

In a speech to the National Energy Resources Organization, Molersaid the Clinton administration intends to follow up its recent”principles” on electricity restructuring with more detailedlegislation, but refused to give more specifics.

“I cannot give you an exact date” when the legislation will besubmitted to Congress, she said. A day before, Rep. Albert Wynn(D-MD), a member of House energy and power subcommittee, alsopredicted that the administration “will come back with somethingthat’s more specific.”

Industry reaction to news that the administration still plans tocraft its own retail-choice bill was less than enthusiastic. “Goodluck. They had a hard enough time with just getting the principlesout,” remarked a gas producer source.

Susan Parker

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