Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 7, 2001
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Locke said, "Wholesale power costs throughout the West clearly are unjust and unreasonable and must be controlled by FERC."
"I'm continuing to press FERC as well as President Bush to give us relief from these obscene energy prices by supporting temporary limits on wholesale prices of electricity over the next several months," the governor said.
Today's filing by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission urges FERC to set a price ceiling based on the cost to operate generating plants that supply power to Western states, and indexed to the cost of fuel.
Locke said the filing also includes a recommendation that a FERC investigation into West Coast energy prices be broadened to include all wholesale power transactions, not just those occurring those times of day when electricity supplies are short.
FERC announced on April 26 that it was broadening its investigation of wholesale power sales to California to 14 Western states. FERC is the federal agency with the authority and responsibility to ensure that wholesale power prices are just and reasonable.
The documents filed with FERC today by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission represent Washington's first opportunity to participate in the new FERC investigation.
Last summer, wholesale power prices in California began increasing as high as 100 times their normal levels. Prices spread quickly throughout the entire west beyond California's borders to cause massive rate increases for many Washington businesses, utilities and the Bonneville Power Administration.
After having urged the federal government for months to fulfill its responsibility to control run-away power prices, Locke said, "FERC was correct to initiate this investigation and we urge it to act quickly given the threat this energy crisis poses to the economies of these Western states."
No schedule has been set by FERC, but similar investigations have taken several months.
Related Links:
- Energy is Money, Think Before You Spend it
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 7, 2001
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Washington files case with FERC to control wholesale power prices, Locke announces
OLYMPIA - The state of Washington today formally urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to act quickly to stabilize the West Coast's wholesale electricity market, Gov. Gary Locke announced.Locke said, "Wholesale power costs throughout the West clearly are unjust and unreasonable and must be controlled by FERC."
"I'm continuing to press FERC as well as President Bush to give us relief from these obscene energy prices by supporting temporary limits on wholesale prices of electricity over the next several months," the governor said.
Today's filing by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission urges FERC to set a price ceiling based on the cost to operate generating plants that supply power to Western states, and indexed to the cost of fuel.
Locke said the filing also includes a recommendation that a FERC investigation into West Coast energy prices be broadened to include all wholesale power transactions, not just those occurring those times of day when electricity supplies are short.
FERC announced on April 26 that it was broadening its investigation of wholesale power sales to California to 14 Western states. FERC is the federal agency with the authority and responsibility to ensure that wholesale power prices are just and reasonable.
The documents filed with FERC today by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission represent Washington's first opportunity to participate in the new FERC investigation.
Last summer, wholesale power prices in California began increasing as high as 100 times their normal levels. Prices spread quickly throughout the entire west beyond California's borders to cause massive rate increases for many Washington businesses, utilities and the Bonneville Power Administration.
After having urged the federal government for months to fulfill its responsibility to control run-away power prices, Locke said, "FERC was correct to initiate this investigation and we urge it to act quickly given the threat this energy crisis poses to the economies of these Western states."
No schedule has been set by FERC, but similar investigations have taken several months.
Related Links:
- Energy is Money, Think Before You Spend it
| » Return to this month's News Releases |
| » View News Release Archive |
Home
Governor Locke
- About the Governor
- Cabinet
- Senior Staff
- Executive Orders
- Proclamations
- Boards and Commissions
- Contact the Governor
The First Lady
News Room
About Washington
- Washington State Facts
- Photo Gallery
- The 50 State QuartersTM Program
- State Legislature
- Washington Courts
- US Census 2000
- Register to Vote
Contact Us
Search
