U.S. SENATOR MARIA CANTWELL STATEMENT RE: FERC DECISION OF JULY 25, 2001
"The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision to establish a special process to evaluate the need for energy refunds in the Pacific Northwest is a great step forward for ratepayers in our region, but it is only a first step.
"This new process does not guarantee that the Northwest will receive refunds to help repair the damage done by skyrocketing electric rates, but it does guarantee that Northwest utilities will get the chance to make a strong case for refunds in showing that rates were unjust and unreasonable.
"In five short weeks, we've progressed from FERC saying that refunds applied only to California, to all five commissioners saying that the Northwest deserves serious and substantive consideration - and quite possibly refunds for ratepayers.
"A new evidentiary hearing and finding of fact gives Northwest parties a chance to present new and substantive evidence, and demonstrate that ratepayers have been charged unjust and unreasonable rates as a result of the recent chaos in the California energy market.
"This decision shows clearly that the FERC commissioners are taking the Northwest's problems seriously and attempting to find a substantive and comprehensive way to address them."
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