2003 Legislation
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 – Energy issues, study

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1

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HCR001............................................................by STEVENSON
STUDY - ENERGY ISSUES - Stating findings of the Legislature and authorizing
the Legislative Council to appoint a committee to study energy-related issues.
                                                                        
01/06    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
    Rpt prt - to Res/Con

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 First Regular Session - 2003
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1
                                                                        
                                        BY STEVENSON
                                                                        
  1                               A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
  2    STATING LEGISLATIVE  FINDINGS  AND  AUTHORIZING  THE  LEGISLATIVE  COUNCIL  TO
  3        APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO STUDY ENERGY RELATED ISSUES.
                                                                        
  4    Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
  5        WHEREAS,  there  were  numerous  bills  introduced  in  Congress from 1996
  6    through 2002 which would have provided for the restructuring of  the  electric
  7    utility and energy industries in this country; and
  8        WHEREAS, there are aggregators who are aggressively trying to find custom-
  9    ers to purchase electric energy from them; and
 10        WHEREAS, Idaho currently enjoys low electric rates compared to the rest of
 11    the nation, mainly because of our hydropower base; and
 12        WHEREAS,  there  may  be  some  benefits to a competitive electric utility
 13    industry, there have been some large unintended consequences to the ratepayers
 14    and the citizens of the state given the California energy crisis and the Enron
 15    collapse; and
 16        WHEREAS, it is not the intent of the Legislature to have big  winners  and
 17    big losers regarding energy policy; and
 18        WHEREAS,  there  have  been many worthwhile social programs included in an
 19    electric utility's rate base such as fish mitigation, weatherization and  low-
 20    income  assistance  programs,  and the Legislature would not like to see those
 21    lost by a restructuring; and
 22        WHEREAS, Idaho's water rights system is a complex  system  of  management,
 23    and  electric  utility restructuring could affect demand loads and river flows
 24    and have some large unintended consequences if not managed properly.
 25        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session
 26    of the Fifty-seventh Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives  and  the
 27    Senate  concurring  therein,  that  the  Legislative  Council is authorized to
 28    appoint a Committee to undertake and review energy related  issues  from  both
 29    the  statewide  perspective  and  the  national  perspective. The Committee is
 30    directed to involve representatives of industry,  agricultural  groups,  small
 31    businesses, consumers of electricity and conservation interests. The Committee
 32    is also authorized to retain the services of a consultant, within appropriated
 33    moneys, who is familiar with the energy industry and who can provide necessary
 34    economic  or  other research that can assist the Committee and the Legislature
 35    in making an informed decision on this most important topic.
 36        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nonlegislative members of the Committee may be
 37    appointed by the cochairs of the Committee who are appointed by  the  Legisla-
 38    tive  Council.  Nonlegislative  members of the advisory Committee shall not be
 39    reimbursed from legislative funds for per diem, mileage or other expenses  and
 40    shall  not have voting privileges regarding the Committee's recommendations or
 41    proposed legislation.
 42        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Committee shall make a progress report  to
 43    the  Second  Regular  Session of the Fifty-seventh Idaho Legislature and shall
 44    make a report detailing its findings, recommendations  and  proposed  legisla-
                                                                        
                                       2
                                                                        
  1    tion,  if any, to the First Regular Session of the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legisla-
  2    ture.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                                 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                                          RS 12423


The purpose of this legislation is to allow the Legislative Council to appoint a committee to
study the subject of energy related issues.  From 1996 through 2002, numerous pieces of
legislation have been introduced in the United States Congress to provide for restructuring of the
electric utility industry and energy issues in this country.  The Committee would be authorized to
meet until November 30, 2004.  There is a companion piece of legislation appropriating moneys
to allow the Committee to retain the services of a consultant to assist it and the Legislature in its
deliberations regarding this most complex and far reaching subject.

                          FISCAL NOTE
The cost of the meetings for the Committee would be expected not to exceed $10,000.  Moneys
would be paid from the Legislative Account.  The cost of the consultant is contained in other
legislation.


CONTACT:
Representative Bert Stevenson
332-1000

Senator Joe Stegner
332-1000




STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                                                             HCR