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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
|||| 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
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