Legislators may act to ease increase burdens

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January 12, 2008

Anonymous The Meadville Tribune Sat Jan 12, 2008, 10:41 PM EST

By Keith Gushard

Meadville Tribune

Pennsylvania’s Energy Competition and Consumer Choice Act of 1996 was supported by all of Crawford County’s state legislators at that time.

Republican state Reps. James Merry, Teresa Brown (now Forcier) and David O. King voted for the measure as did Republican state Sen. Bob Robbins.

Pennsylvania enacted the law to

deregulate the price of electricity because at the time the state had electricity rates that were above the national average.

Deregulation was assumed to save consumers money. However, several significant changes in how energy is produced and who produces it have completely changed that calculation, pushing up electric rates in areas of Pennsylvania where rate caps have expired.

The rate caps on Pennsylvania Electric Co.’s rates are scheduled to be removed January 2011 and rates are expected to increase. Rates may go up 60 percent or more when the caps come off in three years.

“Knowing what we know now (with regard to electric prices), no,” said Robbins when asked if he would support deregulation legislation if it were brought for a vote now. “I was in favor of it because at that time Pennsylvania had some of the highest electric rates in the country and we thought rates would come down.”

Sen. Robbins is the county’s only state legislator still serving from when electricity deregulation was passed.

Rep. Merry died in February

2001. Tribune attempts to contact former Reps. Brown (now Forcier) and King were unsuccessful.

“I expect the Legislature to deal with this,” Robbins said of the consequences of deregulation. However, Robbins said he wasn’t sure what form any legislation may take, including extending caps on current electric rates.

“We’ll have to put everything out there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Crawford County’s current three state House representatives, all Republicans, say they want to look at the issue.

But, they, too, don’t know what form any legislation may take — including a possible extension of electric rate caps.

“We’re weighted with ways to keep rates affordable, but we must balance that with the true cost of energy,” said Republican Rep. John Evans, whose district includes the northwest portion of Crawford County. “We need to protect consumers.”

Republican Rep. Michele Brooks said Pennsylvania needs to look at the issue as it develops a stronger and more competitive energy plan.

“But the plan can’t consist of new taxes and fees on consumers,” said Brooks, whose district includes the southwest portion of Crawford County.

“We have to balance it out,” said Republican Rep. Brad Roae, whose district covers the entire eastern half of Crawford County. “We’re going to need a lot of education (on it) for consumers and we’ll have to study it.”

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

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