[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H3155-H3156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          FERC'S INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO WESTERN ENERGY CRISIS

  (Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my 
colleagues a letter I received from William Massey, one of the three 
commissioners from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
  FERC has a responsibility by law to regulate energy prices when they 
are unjust and unreasonable. Californians spent $7 billion last year on 
energy. This year, the energy costs were $70 billion. The same thing is 
happening in Oregon. Can somebody explain to me what is just and 
reasonable about that?
  This administration has taken a hands-off approach to the energy 
crisis in the West and FERC has shirked its responsibilities to 
maintain a fair market for consumers. Recently, I, along with my 
colleagues, wrote to FERC commissioners and ask they take steps to 
ensure that energy prices out west are just and reasonable. So I would 
like to take a second and read Commissioner Massey's short but 
appropriate response.

[[Page H3156]]

  He says, ``Thank you for writing to express disappointment with 
FERC's wholly inadequate response to the Western energy crisis. My 
response will be brief. I completely agree with you. The commission 
must take additional steps to ensure that prices out west are just and 
reasonable.''
  I just wish this administration would do the same.

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