Governor to Testify on Energy Price Controls

WHO: Governor Judy Martz (R) Montana

WHAT: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

WHEN: March 15, 2001 9:00 am

WHERE: Hart Senate Building / Room 216 Washington, D.C.

DETAILS: Governor Martz and Governor Gary Locke (D) Washington, will testify on three bills put forth by Senators Barbara Boxer (D) and Dianne Feinstein (D) of California to place price caps and other cost of service regulation on western power sources. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and FERC Chairman Curt Hebert are also expected to testify.

Last month, Governor Martz, along with Gov. Jane Dee Hull (R) Arizona; Gov. Dirk Kempthorne (R) Idaho; Gov. Kenny Guinn (R) Nevada; Michael Leavitt (R) Utah; Bill Owens (R) Colorado; Jim Geringer (R) Wyoming; Gary Johnson (R) New Mexico sent a letter to Secretary Abraham opposing price caps.

Governor Martz said, “Price controls applied to existing contracts might jeopardize current contracts and force people out on the spot market, ultimately forcing the entire west into the same predicament as California.”

CONTACT: Anastasia Burton, Press Secretary (406) 444-5523

OF NOTE: C-SPAN will tape the hearing and broadcast it Thursday evening. Visit www.cspan.org tomorrow afternoon for more detailed programming information.