In mid-May, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee began work to mark up a far-reaching electricity restructuring bill (S. 2098). Committee members, however, do not expect that a consensus will be reached before Congress adjourns. If progress on the broad bill slows down considerably, a majority of panel members are urging the Senate to approve a narrower reliability bill. The markup is expected to last several weeks. During the first session of this markup, committee members agreed on the bill’s intent but consensus was not reached on particulars, such as how much authority the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) should be granted in the future electricity marketplace. BOMA International comments that “it’s still too early to predict what is yet to come on this issue. No votes were taken during the markup, but some are expected when the committee next meets on May 24.” On the House side, Rep. Tom Bliley (R-VA), Chair of the Commerce Committee, plans to begin markup in mid-June. BOMA adds that “the issues at hand are complex and differences of opinion on how best to restructure the industry vary widely.” To complicate matters, recent controversy has arisen over the lobbying tactics of several utilities that were exposed of using “grassroots” organizations, that is, front groups, to funnel vast amounts of money into the issue and slow action indefinitely. BOMA International says it will continue to make its message loud and clear: “federal legislation is necessary to build a vibrant, retail electricity marketplace.”
Based on a report from Potomac Currents
