Electricity Rate Cap Pushed Some members of Washington state's congressional delegation are supporting a plan by Democratic House members from the West Coast to temporarily cap wholesale electric rates to deal with the West's energy crunch. Republicans, however, oppose price caps, and Congressman Brian Baird (of Vancouver) says the Democrats aren't getting any help from the G-O-P. The measure would cap wholesale electric rates in Washington, Oregon and California until 2003 and order the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require refunds from wholesale power suppliers that have overcharged.

Congressman Jay Inslee, a Democrat from the Seattle area, says only the federal government can rein in the high prices.

He says the bill sends a message to the Bush administration that action is needed. Republicans, meanwhile, are working on a plan to waive some clean air provisions and direct the use of more portable generators to ease the power crunch this summer. by AP (4/5/2001 7:01:00 AM)

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-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001