1998 Legislation
Print Friendly

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 123 – Electrical deregulatn/local control

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 123

View Daily Data Tracking History

View Bill Text

View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



Text to be added within a bill has been marked with Bold and
Underline. Text to be removed has been marked with
Strikethrough and Italic. How these codes are actually displayed will
vary based on the browser software you are using.

This sentence is marked with bold and underline to show added text.

This sentence is marked with strikethrough and italic, indicating
text to be removed.

Daily Data Tracking History



SCR123.........................................by RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
ELECTRICAL DEREGULATION - Stating findings of the legislature and calling
for the preservation of the principle of local control over Idaho's
electric power industry.

02/10    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/11    Rpt prt - to St Aff

Bill Text


SCR123


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fourth Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 1998
                                                                        

                                      IN THE SENATE

                           SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 123

                          BY RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

 1                               A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 2    STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND CALLING FOR PRESERVATION OF THE  PRIN-
 3        CIPLE OF STATE AND LOCAL CONTROL OVER IDAHO'S ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY, AND
 4        PROMOTING  PUBLIC  INVOLVEMENT  IN  THE CREATION OF A COHERENT, CONSENSUS-
 5        BASED ENERGY POLICY.

 6    Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

 7        WHEREAS, the waters of the great state of Idaho belong to  the  people  of
 8    Idaho; and
 9        WHEREAS,  those  waters  provide the hydroelectric base for the electrical
10    needs of the citizens of Idaho; and
11        WHEREAS, that hydroelectric energy provides for electric rates that  bene-
12    fit the people and businesses of Idaho; and
13        WHEREAS,  energy  regulation in Idaho is working for the well-being of the
14    people of Idaho; and
15        WHEREAS, the regions that are embracing the concept of electricity deregu-
16    lation have done so, for the most part, in lieu of continuing  investments  in
17    energy  conservation  and  renewable energy sources, and have power generation
18    facilities that lead to high electricity rates; and
19        WHEREAS, federally mandated  deregulation  circumvents  the  principle  of
20    local control.
21        NOW,  THEREFORE,  BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
22    sion of the Fifty-fourth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre-
23    sentatives concurring therein, that Idaho's congressional delegation be  urged
24    to  work  diligently to ensure that the principles outlined in this resolution
25    prevail.
26        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Idaho does not
27    support any deregulation of electrical production, sales or transmission  that
28    would be detrimental to the economy, the environment, or the social health and
29    well-being of the people of Idaho.
30        BE  IT  FURTHER RESOLVED that the citizens of the state of Idaho must have
31    an opportunity to adequately study and be heard on  the  consequences  of  any
32    movement  toward  electricity  deregulation,  and to define the state's energy
33    policy in order to protect Idaho's water, electrical rates, environment,  con-
34    sumers  and  workers  as  well  as  universal access for the disadvantaged and
35    elderly.
36        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Interim Committee  on  Electrical  Utility
37    Restructuring  will actively solicit public comment and input through surveys,
38    community forums and public hearings in each region of the state, and at times
39    designed to facilitate the full participation of the people of Idaho.
40        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Interim Committee  on  Electrical  Utility
41    Restructuring  will formally recommend, based on its study and public input, a
42    process to produce a coherent, consensus-based energy policy that:
43        (1)  Preserves low-cost power for Idaho's consumers;
44        (2)  Protects Idaho's current jurisdiction  over  its  environment,  espe-


                                      2

 1    cially its water and air quality, including fish and wildlife habitat;
 2        (3)  Promotes  the safety and reliability of the entire electrical produc-
 3    tion and delivery system, through ongoing investments in  maintenance,  worker
 4    training and protection, and facility upgrades; and
 5        (4)  Provides    funding   for   investments   in   energy   conservation,
 6    nonhydropower renewable resources, low-income  energy  services  and  consumer
 7    protection.
 8        BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED  that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is
 9    hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of  this  resolution  to  the
10    congressional  delegation  representing  the state of Idaho in the Congress of
11    the United States.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


    





                            STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
    
                                 RS07742C1
    
    This resolution calls for the preservation of state and local control 
    over electricity. It urges Idaho's congressional delegation to work to 
    uphold that principal at the federal level, and directs the 
    Legislature's Interim Committee on Electric Utility Restructuring to 
    solicit public comment through surveys and hearings and to recommend a 
    process for developing a comprehensive energy policy that meets 
    certain goals.
    
                                FISCAL NOTE
    
    It is not anticipated that any additional appropriation will _ 
    required beyond what the Interim Committee has already been 
    appropriated.
    
    CONTACT: Sen. Whitworth
             332-1357
             Sen. Stennett
             332-1358
    
    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE
    
    SCR 123