DOMENICI INSTRUCTS ENERGY STAFF TO REVISE DRAFT OF ELECTRICITY TITLE TO REFLECT INPUT FROM TODAY'S HEARING

The following press release was published by the Senate Committee On Energy & Natural Resources on March 27, 2003. It is reproduced in full below.

Washington, D.C. - Senate Energy Chairman Pete Domenici today instructed the Senate Energy Committee staff to incorporate input from today’s extensive hearing on the electricity title into the staff draft of the committee energy bill. The revised draft of the electricity title will be marked up by the committee as previously scheduled. Chairman Domenici’s statement: “Today’s hearing went beyond just the pros and cons of a Standard Market Design to meaningfully address the appropriate regulatory regimes for electricity. Several witnesses expressed criticism and raised some concerns over the staff’s proposal to facilitate the creation of Regional Electricity Service Commissions as a way of addressing long-standing tension between federal regulation and the regional nature of electricity markets. “I found their comments cogent and insightful. As a result, I have instructed the committee staff to incorporate input from today’s hearing into a revised draft of the proposed electricity title."

Source: Senate Committee On Energy & Natural Resources