After many members said they did not want it to become law, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out Special Session House Bill 54 (George-D-Clearfield) that would extend electric rate caps.

Other bills approved by the Committee would set additional siting criteria for landfills, ask Congress for more low-income heating assistance and give the Committee subpoena power to investigate the Governor’s Energy Independence Initiative.

The bills include:

· House Bill 1164 (Wansacz-D-Luzerne) setting sitting criteria for landfills near State Parks;

· House Resolution 848 (Waters-D-Philadelphia) urging President and Congress to increase funding for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; and

· House Resolution 843 (George-D-Clearfield) authorizing the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to investigate all aspects of the Governor’s Energy Initiative.

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) and other Committee members said they hoped Special Session House Bill 54 would not become law, but rather they hoped it would help force Senate action on House Bill 2200 (George-D-Clearfield) that would require utilities to adopted programs to encourage energy conservation.

Members also noted that Gov. Rendell and others said the bill did not pass “constitutional muster.”

"Pennsylvania is not prepared to deal with the $4 billion jolt to the pocketbooks of its citizens and businesses that will occur with the end of the rate caps," Rep. George said. "It’s time to insulate the consumers rather than the utilities already reaping record profits and expecting a bigger bounty with double-digit rate increases."

The Majority Chair of the Committee is Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) and the Minority Chair is Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango).

NewsClip: Environmental Panel Sends Rate Cap Bill To House

Electric Customers In PA Due For Jolt

9/19/2008