Senate

As Senate and House negotiators met Thursday to work on the omnibus energy bill, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) offered for consideration a “discussion draft” proposal that would make it illegal for companies and individual parties to participate in round-trip, or “wash,” trades involving electricity. While it did not address natural gas round-trip activities, Barton spokeswoman Samantha Jordan noted the draft was a “first step,” and there was a “possibility” that a ban on similar trades on the gas side would be added later.

The special California state Senate investigative committee last Thursday announced it will subpoena Enron Corp.’s former CEO Jeff Skilling and two other former executives from the company this week to appear at a hearing in Sacramento April 3. Following approval by the year-old Select Committee to Investigate Price Manipulation in the Wholesale Energy Market this week, the subpoenas are expected to be served Monday, according to a committee staff member.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said last week he plans to offer an amendment to the Senate energy bill that would establish a consumer advocate office within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to represent the interests of natural gas and electricity consumers at the federal level.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) plans to offer an amendment to the Senate energy bill that would establish a consumer advocate office within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to represent the interests of natural gas and electricity consumers at the federal level, a spokeswoman for the senator said.

Rep. Robert Matsui (D-CA) last week introduced an energy tax bill as a companion to the comprehensive energy legislation that was unveiled by Senate Democrats earlier this year.

In the waning day of the Clinton administration, Chairman FrankMurkowski (R-AK) and four other Republican members of the SenateEnergy and Natural Resources Committee have called on the presidentto refrain from enacting regulations that could put off limits evenmore federal lands for natural gas and oil producers. Such actionwould only aggravate the current gas price and supply crisis, theysaid.

The U.S. Senate amended the Department of the Interior’sappropriations bill to include a provision for a two million barrelheating oil reserve in the Northeast. The House already hasauthorized creation of a permanent reserve but has not appropriatedfunds. A conference committee now will merge the two measures. Lastweek, the president ordered the Department of Energy to establish atemporary home heating oil reserve in time for use this winter.This week, DOE plans to advertise for bids to fill that stockpile.It intends to sell oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve inLouisiana in exchange for heating oil and storage capacity in theNortheast.

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) saidthere will be a third mark-up session on electric competitionlegislation on June 7. About 30 amendments have been submitted formark-up so far. “We will have staff work to pare down the number ofamendments, and I will meet personally with Sen. [Jeff] Bingamanand staff to come to grips with the concerns.” Bingaman (D-NM) isranking minority member of the committee. Murkowski cited theextent of federal jurisdiction vs. state jurisdiction as the maindifference among committee members. “Secondary issues are thingslike benefit funds, renewable mandates and nucleardecommissioning…..” He urged committee members to come to termswith the idea of a comprehensive electric bill, adding “I’m notgoing to be the one who kills a comprehensive bill.”

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) saidyesterday there will be a third mark-up session on electriccompetition legislation on June 7. About 30 amendments have beensubmitted for mark-up so far. “We will have staff work to pare downthe number of amendments, and I will meet personally with Sen.[Jeff] Bingaman and staff to come to grips with the concerns.”Bingaman (D-NM) is ranking minority member of the committee.Murkowski cited the extent of federal jurisdiction vs. statejurisdiction as the main difference among committee members.”Secondary issues are things like benefit funds, renewable mandatesand nuclear decommissioning…..” He urged committee members tocome to terms with the idea of a comprehensive electric bill,adding “I’m not going to be the one who kills a comprehensivebill.”