Legislators Seek Public Input on Electricity Rates, Resources
The Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee of the Montana Legislature wants to hear from the public in October on three timely issues related to electricity rates and resources.
The bipartisan committee, made up of eight lawmakers from both the House and Senate, is reviewing Montana energy policy as directed by Senate Bill 290, which was enacted during the 2009 session. To help members determine whether to recommend revisions to the state policy, they are asking stakeholders, the public, and appropriate state agencies to weigh in on three specific issues:
increasing the supply of low-cost electricity with coal-fired generation;
promoting alternative energy systems; and
reducing regulations that increase ratepayers' energy costs.
The committee is especially interested in hearing about any specific changes to state law that may be needed in these topic areas.
Send comments by Oct. 21 to snowakowski@mt.gov or Legislative Services Division, Attn. Sonja Nowakowski, P.O. Box 201704, Helena, MT 59620-1704. Please put "Energy Policy" in the subject line.
At its next scheduled meeting Nov. 9-10 in Helena, the committee will discuss the comments it receives.
In December, the committee plans to request more public comments on the final three issues outlined in SB 290. To learn more about the study, visit the committee's Web page at leg.mt.gov/etic and click on "Energy Policy." Or call Sonja Nowakowski, committee research analyst, at 406-444-3078.
