WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Some Washington lawmakers have introduced a bill that would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the power to overturn unreasonable electric rate hikes for U.P. residents.
The Power Act was introduced Monday by Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congressmen Dan Benishek and Gary Peters. It follows a recent decision by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation that makes Upper Peninsula consumers responsible for 99 percent of the cost to operate the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette. The bill would give FERC the authority to overturn any NERC decision that results in what it considers unfair electric rate increases.
Earlier this week FERC announced it was delaying the increase—scheduled to take effect December 1—so it could investigate the matter further.
