Sen. Thomas
Sen. Moynihan
Sen. Mack and Sen. Graham
Senators Shelby, Dodd, Gramm, Sarbanes, Murkowski, Lott, Mack, Craig, and Brownback
Sen. Gorton
This site has been developed to provide viewers with links to the text of federal and western state restructuring legislation as well as links to key reports and documents prepared by western state/provincial agencies on the subject of competition in the electricity industry. This site will be updated as needed to keep pace with breaking developments. If you have suggestions for improving the scope and content of this site, please contact Doug Larson at WIEB.
Users of this site may also want to view the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's (NRECA) (http://www.nreca.org/current/current.html) home page on the Internet. The NRECA maintains a web page which provides detailed information concerning the status of restructuring activities at the federal level and in each of the 50 states.
Federal Legislation in the 106th Congress
Senate Bills
House Bills
During the Western Governors' Association annual meeting held in June 1997, the governors adopted amendments to the resolution on electric industry restructuring. The original resolution was adopted earlier in February. Click here to view a copy of the amended resolution.
Information on electric restructuring in the Province of Alberta can be
found here http://www.energy.gov.ab.ca/electric/index.htm.
Arizona
On January 5, 1999, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted to temporarily stay
the electric competition rules that had taken effect on January 1. The
commission plans to begin an intensive series of public hearings to fine
tune the competition rules.
British Columbia
Information on the British Columbia Task Force on Electricity Market Reform
can be found here http://www.ei.gov.bc.ca/~electricitytaskforce/default.htm.
California
Information which can be found at the California Energy Commission's restructuring site includes information on renewable service providers and information disclosure.
There is also information available at the California Public Utility Commission Electric Restructuring page.
To oversee the transition to competition, the California Oversight Board was formed. The Oversight Board also makes appointments to the Independent System Operator and Power Exchange Boards.
The California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) is the new controller of the state's power grid.
The California Power Exchange operates the electricity commodities market and provides real-time pricing for energy consumers.
Key Legislation:
HB 1890 (Signed by Governor Wilson on 9/23/96)
SB 477 (Signed by Governor Wilson on 8/15/97)
SB 1305 (Enrolled on 9/12/97)
In December 1996, staff of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission completed a report on restructuring issues. The report, entitled A Report of Stakeholders' Views on the Future Structure of Colorado's Electric Utility Industry, was prepared based on comments received in response to a 26-page survey of competition issues developed by PUC staff. Both the report and the accompanying survey are available from the Colorado PUC home page.
Legislation Introduced in 1998:
Idaho
In August 1996, the Idaho Public Utility Utilities Commission issued a final order on restructuring which concludes that "unrestrained" retail electric competition is not in the best interest of Idaho ratepayers. Additional restructuring documents, including a report entitled Changes Affecting the Electric Utility Industry and a PUC order approving an experimental retail wheeling program by Washington Water Power, are also posted on the Idaho PUC home page. Additional industry restructuring information for Northwest states is available from the Northwest Power Planning Council.
Legislation Introduced in 1997:
HB 399 (introduced March 11, passed)
HCR 002 (introduced January 6)
Montana
In 1997, the Montana legislature enacted Senate Bill 390, the Montana Electric Utility Industry Restructuring And Consumer Choice Act. Customer choice will be phased in between July 1, 1998 and July 1, 2002. For more information, go to the Montana Public Service Commission electric restructuring page at: http://www.psc.mt.gov/gaselec/gaselec.htm.
In January 1997, Montana Gov. Racicot adopted a set of principles on electricity industry restructuring. The principles call for the State Legislature to establish retail competition in Montana by a date certain.
In December 1996, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality submitted its report on restructuring issues to the Montana Legislature.
Nebraska
Pursuant to Legislative Resolution 455, a study is underway to examine issues associated with restructuring of Nebraska's public power system. The Nebraska Legislature maintains a home page on the Internet with information about the ongoing study effort.
Nevada
In 1997, the Nevada legislature enacted A.B. 366 directing
the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of Nevada to institute changes so
that the state's power market would be open to competition on or
before December 31, 1999. For information on restructuring in Nevada go to
the PUC restructuring page at: http://www.state.nv.us/tciy/index1.htm
New Mexico
Legislation Introduced in 1997:
SJM4 (Study bill, passed)
SJM5 (Study bill, passed)
HB 724
HJM 11
HJM 3
SJM 4
SJM 5
Oregon
The Oregon Public Utilities Commission has developed a set of policy objectives which it plans to achieve during 1997 regarding restructuring of the electric power industry. Among the objectives are: (1) require utilities to implement direct access pilot programs; and (2) identify mechanisms to help protect electricity consumers in a more competitive market. Additional industry restructuring information for Northwest states is available from the Northwest Power Planning Council.
On December 12, 1996, Governor Kitzhaber issued a Statement of Principles for Restructuring the Electric Utility Industry. The document contains 11 principles to guide the possible establishment of retail competition in Oregon.
Legislation Introduced in 1997:
HB 2503
Utah
Legislation Introduced in 1997:
HB 313 (introduced February 3)
Washington
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission maintains a site on its home devoted to restructuring developments in the state. Key documents include: (1) WUTC comments in response to the FERC's CRT NOPR; (2) Guiding Principles for Regulation in an Evolving Electricity Industry; and (3) information pertaining Washington Water Power's experimental direct access program. Additional industry restructuring information for Northwest states is available from the Northwest Power Planning Council.
Legislation Introduced in 1997:
HB 1652 (introduced February 4)
SB 5639 (introduced February 4)
SB 5661 (introduced February 5)
Wyoming
The Wyoming Public Service Commission has prepared a white paper which evaluates the potential economic impacts of restructuring on the state. Additionally, each of the six subcommittees which were formed as part of the PSC's collaborative process on competition have prepared white papers on various subjects (e.g., reliability issues, rate unbundling, social concerns, implementation issues, legal issues, and transition issues). These white papers are available on the PSC's home page.