HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, majority chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, today said a second public hearing on legislation that would extend utility generation rate caps by two years has been scheduled for 1-3 p.m. March 26, at the Ramada Conference Center in Altoona.
“The hearing will focus on Special Session House Bill 54, which would extend rate-cap protection for two years to residential, commercial and industrial customers of PPL, First Energy and PECO,” said Rep. George, D-74 of Clearfield County. “Deregulation did not lower prices, and no one should swallow the utility commercials that imply that competition will bring lower or even stable electric prices.”
Tentatively scheduled to testify at the Ramada, 220 Plank Road in Altoona, are:
? Stephen L. Feld, associate general counsel, FirstEnergy Corp.;
? Richard Hudson Jr., state chairman, Retail Energy Supply Association;
? David Hughes, executive director, Citizen Power;
? Michael Messer, Industrial Energy Consumers of Pennsylvania;
? Aldie Warnock, vice president/external affairs, Allegheny Energy Inc.
Under House Bill 54, utilities could seek rate-cap relief annually when they show significant changes in their costs. During the rate-cap extension, energy would be secured to ensure reliable service at the lowest, reasonable rates through a portfolio of long-term, short-term and spot market purchases that meet alternative-energy requirements.
“We must implement policies now that buffer Pennsylvania citizens and businesses from volatile electricity prices and prevent disastrous, double-digit
rate increases,” George said.
HB 54 also was the subject of a public hearing held Feb. 12 in the state Capitol.