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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep.
Camille "Bud" George |
  
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Rep. George: Conservation bill tolerable but rate relief is critical
HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – State Rep. Camille "Bud" George, chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said that the Legislature’s passage today of an energy-conservation measure will not deter efforts to buffer consumers from massive electric-rate increases set to hit the Commonwealth in less than 15 months.
"House Bill 2200 is a mixed bag on energy conservation, perhaps inching conservation goals forward but still catering to a utility industry already doing very well at ratepayers’ expense," Rep. George said. "Utilities were warned that failing to address rate mitigation now will have repercussions later, and time is on the side of the consumer."
"The bill bolsters requirements for utilities to reduce overall and peak demand output," said Rep. George, D-74 of Clearfield County. "However, the bulk of the power to be obtained through the broken PJM wholesale market will continue to be purchased using the most expensive bid submitted on the spot market.
"Giving electric distribution companies sole discretion on long-term contracts and discarding the Public Utility Commission’s Office of Trial Staff is a bad deal for citizens, industry and the Commonwealth," he said. "If time had permitted, this bill should have been repaired and returned to the Senate."
Rep. George said he reluctantly voted for HB 2200 while vowing to redouble his efforts to win approval of legislation that would ease rate shock on Pennsylvania ratepayers.
"Consumers are being victimized by ravenous utilities and ‘ice floe environmentalists’ who say outrageous electric rates with no basis in the true costs of producing power are OK as long as it reduces demand," Rep. George said. "The conservation benefits in House Bill 2200 will be trumpeted as salvation, but ratepayers need to be heard on the rate increases or we will be risking economic extinction."
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CONTACT: Matthew Maciorkoski |