To: Members & Subscribers From: National Office Date: April 10, 1998 Re: LA98-2 Energy Deregulation, Support For H.R.655
In early 1997 Congressman Dan Schaefer (R-CO) introduced legislation to restructure electricity regulation and provide consumers with the right to choose among competitive providers of electricity. Among the goals of H.R.655, the "Electric Consumers' Power to Choose Act of 1997," are the overall lowering of electricity rates and provision of higher quality services. H.R.655 is the bill most likely to be the vehicle for electricity restructuring in the House of Representatives.
AMSA's Legislative Policy Committee and Board of Directors voted to support Congressman Schaefer's legislation during their meetings in San Antonio last month. In addition to lowering the overall costs of electricity to utilities, the legislation supports biomass (digester gas) as a "renewable energy" source and would held create on-going markets for utilities that produce electricity from digester gas. Enclosed is a letter of support from AMSA to Congressman Schaefer. Also enclosed is a letter from Bob Hite, District Manager, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (Denver), to AMSA President Cecil Lue-Hing, which provides additional information on H.R.655 and its potential impact on POTWs.
According to recent reports, House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) has plans for House consideration of the legislation in April. AMSA support and the support of its members is crucial to the success of the legislation as proposed.
The Americans for Affordable Electricity (AAE) was recently formed to support this legislation. AAE members include commercial, industrial, institutional and residential users of electricity. There is no cost to join this coalition which provides AMSA with an additional vehicle for promoting this legislation. A membership application is enclosed and AMSA members are encouraged to join. For AMSA's records, please send a copy of your completed membership application to the National Office no later than March 20, 1998. Additionally, please contact your Member of Congress, especially is he or she is a member of the Commerce Committee, as soon as possible to register your support for H.R.655. A list of Commerce Committee members is included with this Alert for your information.
Thank you for your assistance. This bill has the potential to provide huge savings and benefits to POTWs and their ratepayers.
The Committee on Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESSRepublicans Democrats Tom Bliley, VA, Chairman John D. Dingell, MI, Ranking Member W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, LA Henry A. Waxman, CA Michael G. Oxley, OH Edward J. Markey, MA Michael Bilirakis, FL Ralph M. Hall, TX Dan Schaefer, CO Rick Boucher, VA Joe Barton, TX Thomas J. Manton, NY J. Dennis Hastert, IL Edolphus Towns, NY Fred Upton, MI Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ Cliff Stearns, FL Sherrod Brown, OH Bill Paxon, NY Bart Gordon, TN Paul E. Gillmor, OH Elizabeth Furse, OR Scott L. Klug, WI Peter Deutsch, FL James C. Greenwood, PA Bobby L. Rush, IL Michael D. Crapo, ID Anna G. Eshoo, CA Christopher Cox, CA Ron Klink, PA Nathan Deal, GA Bart Stupak, MI Steve Largent, OK Eliot L. Engel, NY Richard Burr, NC Thomas C. Sawyer, OH Brian P. Bilbray, CA Albert R. Wynn, MD Ed Whitfield, KY Gene Green, TX Greg Ganske, IA Karen McCarthy, MO Charlie Norwood, GA Ted Strickland, OH Rick White, WA Diana DeGette, CO Tom Coburn, OK Rick Lazio, NY Barbara Cubin, WY James Rogan, CA John Shimkus, IL