Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

RE: Support the "Electric Reliability Improvement Act of 2003"

Dear Representative ,

I urge you to co-sponsor and actively support the "Electric Reliability Improvement Act of 2003" (HR 3004), which offers the reliability section (Subtitle C, Section 16031) of the House energy bill as stand-alone legislation. The blackout of 2003 should not be exploited to ram through controversial and regressive provisions in the current energy legislation, all in the name of "reliability." Instead, a reliability bill should be supported on its own merits.

America's transmission system was designed to accommodate local electricity markets, not the large trading of electricity over long distances that occurs under deregulation. The use of the system in this way -- as well as the use of the wires by power marketers to increase their own profits regardless of the effects on the grid -- are likely culprits in the recent blackout. Whatever the outcome of the pending investigation, a rush to judgment on what those causes were, and what their remedy should be, would be a foolish and premature action at this time. A responsible stand-alone mandatory reliability bill is the appropriate response at this time.

Because of the evisceration of the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) over the past decade, utilities are no longer required to reinvest ratepayer money back into the transmission system. PUHCA, which is slated for full repeal in both the House and Senate energy bills, is designed to prevent companies from controlling our national grid to make huge profits through a low-risk venture. For 68 years, PUHCA has protected consumers, investors and the economy. A complete repeal of PUHCA would harm consumers, investors, and the economy.

Our electric utility system used to be the best in the world. We now have an "electric industry in chaos," according to Wall Street credit rating agencies. Congress should not support an energy bill that benefits lucrative energy industries and while ignoring the well-being of consumers. Please co-sponsor HR 3004, support policies that protect consumers and oppose any energy legislation that repeals PUHCA.

EAN Alerts Email List | Tell a Friend | Links | Contact | Site Map