[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17944]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             FAIR RATES ACT

  (Mr. KENNEDY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, last year, when an energy capacity auction 
increased certain rates in my region from $1 billion to $3 billion, I 
asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to take a close look at 
those prices and determine whether they were set fairly for consumers.
  During the review, FERC had only four sitting Commissioners and 
deadlocked at 2-2. That meant that rates went into effect ``by 
operation of law,'' and consumers were left with no avenue to appeal.
  To me, that is unacceptable; so I introduced the Fair RATES Act to 
ensure that ratepayers are guaranteed an opportunity to have their 
voices heard.
  Unfortunately, last week, Commissioner Philip Moeller stepped down--
again, leaving FERC with just four Commissioners. Without a 
confirmation or even a nomination for a fifth Commissioner in sight, we 
find ourselves in the same situation. FERC is, once again, reviewing 
rising rates in my region and, once again, is at risk of a deadlock 
that would leave consumers holding the bag.
  That is why we must pass Fair RATES today. Since last year's auction, 
our rates have jumped another billion dollars, and $3 billion is too 
steep an increase for my constituents to pay just because Congress will 
not act.
  

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