[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BURLINGTON ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT'S 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2005

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to celebrate the 100th 
anniversary of the city of Burlington Electric Department. What an 
incredible achievement!
  One of the great experiences I had as Mayor was seeing, close up, how 
much it mattered to Burlington's citizens that we had public power, and 
not a for-profit corporation, delivering the electricity our city's 
households and businesses need. The results are clear. Burlington today 
has some of the lowest electric bills in the state. And that is no 
small matter when families are hard pressed by increasing gasoline and 
fuel oil prices, and the difficult economy that is faced by so many.
  When the goal of a department is to provide the best quality service 
at the lowest possible cost, rather than huge profits and big CEO 
compensation packages, amazing things can happen. Through innovative 
and creative management and by utilizing aggressive energy efficiency 
measures, electricity use in Burlington is 1 percent below what it was 
in 1989--saving Burlington customers some $6.7 million a year. 
Burlington is using less power at a time of economic growth--a 
remarkable achievement. Since 1995 average rates have decreased by 17 
percent. Clearly there is something very right about the Burlington 
Electric Department which the rest of Vermont and America can learn 
from.
  Several years ago I brought a number of the most innovative electric 
departments in the country together for a meeting in Washington. I was 
very proud that the BED showed itself to be one of the very best in the 
nation. Given the major energy crisis that our country now faces, I am 
confident that BED will continue to come forward with bold and 
innovative ideas to protect our rate-payers and our environment.
  Whether it is in the normal operation of business, or dealing with 
power outages from an ice storm or a blizzard, the employees of 
Burlington Electric serve the people of Burlington with real 
dedication. Whatever the job is, they get it done.
  To Mayor Clavelle, Barbara Grimes, BED's General Manager; to the 
Electric Commission; and the City Council; and most especially to the 
men and women who not only work for the Electric Department but make it 
work for all of Burlington:
  Congratulations on BED's hundredth anniversary.

                          ____________________