Citizens' Utility Board of Oregon: CUB Supports Creating National Energy Consumer Advocate

What have we done for YOU lately? Since 1984, CUB has saved Oregon ratepayers more than $3.4 billion dollars.

May 20, 2005

CUB Supports Creating National Energy Consumer Advocate

CUB is happy to announce that creation of a national Energy Consumer Advocate is being considered by the U.S. Senate. The following excerpt of Senator Wyden's news release tells more:

A provision championed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to create a Federal advocate to protect the interests of American energy consumers was included today in the Senate's comprehensive energy legislation. The provision, which would create an independent consumer advocate to be appointed by the Secretary of Energy, is part of the energy bill currently being considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Wyden offered amendment language to create such an advocate when energy legislation was considered by Congress in 2002, as Oregonians reeled from price spikes and energy market manipulation by Enron. He has long been concerned that wholesale energy transactions, which often occur between and among states, are causing higher electric bills for Americans....

The Oregon Citizens Utility Board (CUB), the state equivalent to the Federal advocate that would be created by the Senate energy legislation, expressed support today for this provision:

"On behalf of utility consumers, the Citizens' Utility Board expresses its appreciation to Senator Wyden for pursuing a customer protection that has long been missing," said Bob Jenks, Executive Director of the Oregon CUB. "One of the lessons of the Western energy crisis is that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) operates in a vacuum without a full understanding of its effects on real consumers. Thanks to Senator Wyden's efforts, the utility customer should now have a meaningful voice in FERC proceedings."

Thank you, Senator Wyden!

Posted by Oregon CUB at May 20, 2005 10:08 AM

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