National Legislation & Politics

ATTENTION NBFAA CSA LEADERSHIP:
Electric Restructuring Legislation On the Move Your Industry
Needs Your Collective Legislative Power 

Please write a letter to your Representative and have your members write a letter to their Representative! 

As the Second Session of the 106th Congress gets going, the House of Representatives is considering legislation to restructure the electric utility industry Representative Joe Barton (R- TX) has introduced HR 2944, the "Electric Competition and Reliability Act", and scheduled it for consideration. The bill passed out of subcommittee and still does not include any provision to protect against cross-subsidization. Thus, there is a potential for utilities to utilize ratepayer funds to subsidize non-electric businesses-such as burglar and fire alarms.

NBF AA was successful in persuading Congress to include some insulation against similar cross-subsidies in the 1996 telecommunications legislation. NBF AA members are urged to write to Members of Congress that sit on the Commerce Committee to request similar protections in HR 2944. Enclosed is a sample letter and list of Commerce Committee Members. Please address it to the Member of Congress from your state and feel free to customize your message. Investing 15 minutes to write the letter RIGHT NOW will pay dividends for your company and your sanity later! Please put the sample letter on your letterhead and send it today!

PS: If and when your Representative replies, please forward the reply to Jennifer Gehring at NBFAA via fax at (301) 585-1866. Thank you!

Sample Letter

 Honorable (Member of Congress)
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (Member of Congress):

I am disappointed that HR 2944 does not contain a specific provision to assure that large utilities will not be able to leverage their resources when they compete against independent businesses in their non-utility endeavors.

As the owner of an alarm company I am concerned that the electric utilities will be able to subsidize alarm ventures as they restructure themselves. Congress now has the opportunity to help prevent unfair competition and preserve a free and open market, to the advantage of the American consumer.

I urge Congress to adopt language similar to that contained in the 1996 Telecommunications Act in 47 USC 272. That language was developed after a thorough review and serves as a model of how to limit unfair competition. While marking-up HR 2944 in the Commerce Committee, please remember my request.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, 

Majority Members of the Committee on Commerce:

Rep. Michael Bilirakis, Florida
2369 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-5755

Rep. Cliff Stearns, Florida
2227 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-5744

Minority Member of the Committee on Commerce:

Rep. Peter Deutsch, Florida
204 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-7931