PRINTER'S NO. 1658
No. 134 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, FEBRUARY 8, 2000
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, FEBRUARY 8, 2000
A RESOLUTION
1 Calling upon the Governor to direct the appropriate departments
2 and agencies to work collectively to determine the causes of
3 rising heating and fuel oil prices; and providing for Senate
4 hearings by the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.
5 WHEREAS, Crude oil prices have increased from $11 per barrel
6 in early 1999 to nearly $30 per barrel in recent weeks; and
7 WHEREAS, Heating oil prices in Pennsylvania have increased
8 from an average of 80¢ per gallon in November 1999 to over $1.40
9 per gallon in the final week of January 2000; and
10 WHEREAS, Recent snowstorms and cold temperatures have
11 dramatically increased demands for heating oil throughout the
12 Commonwealth; and
13 WHEREAS, The average heating oil bill for Pennsylvania
14 families in the winter of 1999-2000 could be double that of
15 recent winters; and
16 WHEREAS, The shortage of fuel oil in the northeastern United
17 States may be attributed to production cutbacks by oil-producing
18 countries, rampant speculation in the commodities markets and
1 changes in electric power production; and
2 WHEREAS, These increases dramatically affect prices for
3 essential utility and municipal services and increases in
4 transportation costs threaten jobs and could cause major
5 disruption of vital supplies and other goods and services; and
6 WHEREAS, Families in Pennsylvania and particularly low-income
7 families are facing impossibly high heating bills as a result of
8 the current price crisis; therefore be it
9 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the Governor to direct the
10 appropriate departments and agencies to work collectively to
11 determine and address the causes of rising heating and fuel oil
12 prices in Pennsylvania and that a copy of this resolution be
13 transmitted to the Governor; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the Senate Intergovernmental Affairs Committee
15 be directed to conduct hearings to examine the reasons for the
16 rapid increase in heating and fuel oil prices in the
17 Commonwealth.
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