Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 7, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke’s statement on the release of Enron-related documents

“Washington state was hurt badly by last year’s energy crisis. We have long suspected that some private energy companies were manipulating the energy markets. I’m not surprised to learn of documents that bolster that suspicion. Washington state investigators are continuing to work to get to the bottom of this matter.

“Whether or not the documents prove to be the smoking guns that some say they are, today’s news reinforces my view that energy markets must be closely monitored and rules must be strictly enforced. Energy plays too key a role in the health of our economy for federal regulators to just sit by when energy markets are broken.

“More than a year and a half ago I called on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to bring stability to wholesale power markets by imposing temporary price caps. This week’s news suggests that FERC should have heeded my call sooner than it did.”

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Related Links:
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- AG Gregoire Statement Concerning New Enron Memos

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