Comprehensive legislation to restructure the electricityindustry appears to have gotten a jump-start in the Senate.

Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) of the Senate Energy and NaturalResources Committee announced the panel will begin a”section-by-section” markup of legislation May 17, to be followedby a second session on May 24 and possibly other sessions ifnecessary.

Murkowski plans to use his own restructuring measure, S. 2098,as well as other comprehensive proposals during the markup process,a committee spokeswoman said. He hopes to report a bill out ofcommittee by the July 4th recess, she noted. In the House, however,the Commerce Committee still is trying to move Rep. Joe Barton’s(R-TX) restructuring legislation to markup.

Also, Murkowski and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) areexpected to introduce a “huge energy package” soon, possibly asearly as next week, according to the spokeswoman for the SenateEnergy panel.

The package will include a number of energy-friendly proposals,including tax credits for stripper wells, opening the ArcticNational Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas production, incentives forrenewables and reauthorization of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,she noted.

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