PRINTER'S NO. 4169
No. 783 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, DeWEESE, BELARDI, BEYER, CALTAGIRONE,
FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, JAMES, JOSEPHS,
LaGROTTA, McILHATTAN, MUNDY, MYERS, PALLONE, PARKER, SHANER,
SIPTROTH, SURRA, THOMAS, TIGUE, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JUNE 8, 2006
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, JUNE 8, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 conduct a study on the effect of electric utility
3 deregulation in this Commonwealth.
4 WHEREAS, The Electricity Generation Choice for Customers of
5 Electric Cooperatives Act was enacted under the act of December
6 3, 1996 (P.L.802, No.138) to foster competition beneficial to
7 consumers and utilities; and
8 WHEREAS, Since enactment of this act, Pennsylvanians have
9 faced higher electric costs, price gouging and reduced
10 reliability of electric service; and
11 WHEREAS, Since enactment of this act, utilities have sold
12 their generation plants, thereby eliminating hundreds of jobs
13 across this Commonwealth; and
14 WHEREAS, Since enactment of this act, electric utility
15 companies have enjoyed substantial profits while the utility
16 infrastructure in this Commonwealth has declined; and
17 WHEREAS, Representatives of electric utility companies have
1 recently bemoaned the negative effects of this act; and
2 WHEREAS, Unprecedented reliance on electric-powered machines
3 has dramatically increased electricity consumption across this
4 Commonwealth; and
5 WHEREAS, Electricity shortages would have a crippling effect
6 on all aspects of society; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
8 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on
9 the impact of utility deregulation on the consumers, economy and
10 utility infrastructure of this Commonwealth; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That the study include recommendations on how the
12 Electricity Generation Choice for Customers of Electric
13 Cooperatives Act can be modified to better protect the public
14 interest; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
16 consult with the chair and the minority chair of the Consumer
17 Affairs Committee and the chair and the minority chair of the
18 Environmental Resources and Energy Committee in formulating the
19 study; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
21 report its findings to the House of Representatives no later
22 than one year following the adoption of this resolution and that
23 copies of the report be promptly disseminated thereafter to the
24 Governor and to all members of the General Assembly for
25 consideration.
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