1                               A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
  2      STATING LEGISLATIVE  FINDINGS  AND  AUTHORIZING  THE  LEGISLATIVE  COUNCIL  TO
  3        APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO STUDY ELECTRIC UTILITY RESTRUCTURING.
 
  4    Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
 
  5        WHEREAS,  there  were  numerous  bills  introduced  in  Congress from 1996
  6    through 2000 which would have provided for the restructuring of  the  electric
  7    utility industry in this country; and
  8        WHEREAS, there are aggregators who are aggressively trying to find custom-
  9    ers to purchase electric energy from them; and
 10        WHEREAS, Idaho currently enjoys low electric rates compared to the rest of
 11    the nation, mainly because of our hydropower base; and
 12        WHEREAS,  some  states,  including  California, have passed legislation to
 13    restructure the electric utility industry in those states; and
 14        WHEREAS, there are some benefits to a competitive electric utility  indus-
 15    try, there may be some large unintended consequences to the ratepayers and the
 16    citizens of the state if such a move is not carefully thought out and planned;
 17    and
 18        WHEREAS,  it  is not the intent of the Legislature to have big winners and
 19    big losers as far as classes of electric customers go if the electric  utility
 20    industry is restructured; and
 21        WHEREAS,  there  have  been many worthwhile social programs included in an
 22    electric utility's rate base such as fish mitigation, weatherization and  low-
 23    income  assistance  programs,  and the Legislature would not like to see those
 24    lost by a restructuring; and
 25        WHEREAS, Idaho's water rights system is a complex  system  of  management,
 26    and  electric  utility restructuring could affect demand loads and river flows
 27    and have some large unintended consequences if not managed properly.
 28        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session
 29    of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the House  of  Representatives  and  the
 30    Senate  concurring  therein,  that  the  Legislative  Council is authorized to
 31    appoint a Committee to undertake and review the potential restructuring of the
 32    electric utility industry from both the statewide perspective and the national
 33    perspective. The Committee is directed to involve representatives of industry,
 34    agricultural groups, small businesses, consumers of electricity and  conserva-
 35    tion  interests.  The Committee is also authorized to retain the services of a
 36    consultant, within appropriated moneys, who  is  familiar  with  the  electric
 37    utility industry and who can provide necessary economic or other research that
 38    can assist the Committee and the Legislature in making an informed decision on
 39    this most important topic.
 40        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nonlegislative members of the Committee may be
 41    appointed  by  the cochairs of the Committee who are appointed by the Legisla-
 42    tive Council. Nonlegislative members of the advisory Committee  shall  not  be
 43    reimbursed  from legislative funds for per diem, mileage or other expenses and
 44    shall not have voting privileges regarding the Committee's recommendations  or
 
                                       2
 
  1    proposed legislation.
  2        BE  IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Committee shall make a progress report to
  3    the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature and shall make
  4    a report detailing its findings, recommendations and proposed legislation,  if
  5    any, to the First Regular Session of the Fifty-seventh Idaho Legislature.