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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
SCR123|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO |||| Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session - 1998IN 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
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