Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), in a recent letter to FERC Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner, argued that any refund policy adopted by the Commission must not disadvantage utilities in the Pacific Northwest because of the contractual mechanisms that they have used to acquire power to serve their customers. She also asserted that Northwest entities that have been hurt by California’s energy crisis should be eligible for refunds.
Senator
Articles from Senator
Senate Urged to Shift Focus Away from ANWR
A western senator yesterday urged Capitol Hill lawmakers not to spend too much time on the issue of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge because, he cautions, it’s not going to get through Congress.
Senate Dems to Press FERC on CA Price Relief
On the same day that he was handed the reins of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) said that bipartisan legislation directing FERC to set cost-based rates to ensure just and reasonable wholesale energy prices in California could get consideration from the panel within the next couple of weeks. Separately, newly-minted Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) made it clear earlier this week that he stands ready to support such legislation if FERC falls short of meeting its just and reasonable obligations.
Senate Confirms Abraham to DOE
The Senate over the weekend confirmed by a voice vote SpencerAbraham, a former senator from Michigan, as the secretary of theDepartment of Energy (DOE).
Senator Cautions Against Too Much Gas Reliance
Some Capitol Hill lawmakers and energy experts believe theUnited States may be setting itself for another energy crisis 10 to20 years down the road by relying to heavily on natural gas to fuelnew power generation facilities.
Senator Cautions Against Too Much Gas Reliance
Some Capitol Hill lawmakers and energy experts believe theUnited States may be setting itself up for another energy crisis 10to 20 years down the road by relying too heavily on natural gas tofuel new power generation facilities.
Regulator, Senator Smile on Southwest-Oneok
Southwest Gas of Las Vegas and Oneok Inc. of Tulsa, OK, received the blessing of Nevada’s Consumer Advocate and a Nevada state legislator for their proposed merger.