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1997 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 259
Continuing the Joint Subcommittee Examining the Restructuring of the Electric Utility Industry.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 20, 1997
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 1997

WHEREAS, more than 40 states now have under consideration restructuring in the electric utility industry; and

WHEREAS, significant efforts involving retail competition are in various stages of study, planning and implementation in the various states; and

WHEREAS, there are legislative proposals pending in the United States Congress directing the implementation of retail competition for electricity by dates certain in the near future; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly in 1996 approved Senate Joint Resolution No. 118 (1996), establishing a joint legislative subcommittee that has commenced its study of such restructuring and retail competition; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee conducted public hearings to hear from the providers and consumers of electricity; and

WHEREAS, the staff of the State Corporation Commission (SCC) has just completed its initial overview of such restructuring of the electric utility industry and retail competition; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the residential, industrial, commercial and governmental electricity consumers in Virginia to have reliable electricity at the most competitive cost while protecting environmental quality; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth should be prepared for the potential of retail competition for electricity in Virginia and have the necessary information to make decisions regarding such potential competition; and

WHEREAS, the SCC and its staff possess the expertise to develop a model plan for the restructuring of the electric utility industry in Virginia that will provide for reliable, competitive electricity; and

WHEREAS, restructuring of the electric utility industry may have a significant impact on small businesses and residential consumers within the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee study and the SCC staff examination should be continued and coordinated both with each other and with the various impacted parties such as electricity suppliers and electricity consumers in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Subcommittee Examining Restructuring in the Electric Utility Industry be continued. The joint subcommittee shall also study the impact that restructuring in the electric utility industry may have on small businesses and residential consumers in the Commonwealth.

The members appointed pursuant to SJR No. 118 (1996) shall continue to serve, and any vacancies shall be filled as provided in the resolution. Staffing shall continue to be provided by the Division of Legislative Services.

The SCC staff is requested to provide to the joint subcommittee by November 7, 1997, its draft of (i) a working model, which may also include experiments and pilot programs, most appropriate for the Commonwealth of Virginia for the future structure of the electric utility industry to provide reliable, competitive electricity and meet the demands of a changing industry while protecting environmental quality, (ii) any statutory or regulatory changes considered appropriate under such model, and (iii) the appropriate timetable and transition for the model to be implemented. In conducting its analysis and preparing its recommendations, the SCC staff shall work in a collaborative fashion with representatives of electricity suppliers, consumers of electricity in the Commonwealth, and other parties of interest in this issue.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $4,200.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.