On
September 17, the "Campaign for Fair Electric Rates," whose members include
APPA, the Consumers Federation of America, the Electricity Consumers Resource
Council (ELCON), Portland Cement Association and Power in the Public Interest
(PPI), held a Congressional briefing to educate staff on the problems that
persist in RTOs and deregulated markets and what the Campaign is doing to try
to fix it. About 25-30 Congressional
staff attended, as well as representatives from industry.
APPA
President and CEO Mark Crisson led the briefing and gave a brief background on
RTOs, highlighting that the market structure has produced higher costs to
consumers. Crisson said the Campaign's
message is simple: Wholesale electric markets operated by RTOs have failed to
protect customers. He added that lower
costs have not materialized and regulators are not "stepping up" so reform is
needed. Crisson also discussed the
difference in electric rates between deregulated and regulated states, whereby
the deregulated states' rates were significantly higher.
Also
speaking at the briefing and expressing their organization's concerns with RTOs
and deregulated markets were: John Anderson, President and CEO of
ELCON; Marilyn Showalter, Executive Director of PPI; and Paula Carmody, Maryland's Office of the
People's Counsel. The
speakers warned staff that, because RTOs and FERC have been unresponsive to the
concerns expressed on behalf of consumers about rising electricity rates and
lack of accountability, "this issue will be coming to Congress."