While electric restructuring at the federal level meandersalong, a broad group of industry and consumer organizationsreleased a list last week of 23 principles it believes should beincluded. The group is hoping its efforts might add some urgency tothe legislative process.

“This list of principles serves as a guide to members ofCongress considering this important legislation,” said Bill Paxon,chairman of Americans for Affordable Electricity. “These principlesdemonstrate that a wide range of stakeholders are cooperating toreach the consensus necessary to move legislation this year.”

Investor-owned utilities, public power, national consumergroups, power marketers and industrial consumers came together toidentify areas of agreement to keep the legislative process moving.The principles address a variety of issues, and they attempt toclarify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) authorityover interstate transmission.

The House is much further along than the Senate withrestructuring legislation. Most hold little hope for passing ofrestructuring legislation this year as it is an election year. InOctober, the House Commerce Committee’s Energy and PowerSubcommittee approved a federal restructuring bill (HR 2944), andthe full House Commerce Committee is poised to take on the task ofimproving the bill and moving it to the House floor. “We are off toa great start this year with [House Commerce Committee] Chairman[Tom] Bliley and the House leadership stating their commitment togetting this bill enacted into law,” Paxon said. “Now with thestakeholders’ principles, we are one step closer to our goal of anational seamless wholesale electricity market that promotescompetition and enhances reliability.”

The group told Congress to do the following: