Several energy bills were moving in the House this week including part of the Governor’s Energy Independence Initiative, but legislation to provide a transition to market-based electric rates was taken off a committee agenda.

The House Finance Committee amended and reported out Special Session House Bill 1 (DePasquale-D-York) establishing a grant program and authorizing $850 million in bonds for the PA Energy Development Authority.

The bill was changed to include the Senate’s funding mechanism and deleting the Governor’s system benefit charge.

The House Consumer Affairs Committee reported out legislation that requires electric distribution companies to reduce the demand for electricity by 2.5 percent by 2013, but deferred action on part of the Governor’s energy initiative providing a transition to market-based electricity rates. The bills include:

· House Bill 2200 (George-D-Clearfield) requiring utilities to adopt energy efficiency and demand-side management programs, which was amended in Committee; and

· House Bill 2201 (McCall-D-Carbon) amend Title 66 providing for a transition to market-based electric rates, requiring assistance to low-income customers and providing for advance payments of electric bills was passed over.

Rep. David Levdansky (D-Allegheny) serves as Majority Chair of the Finance Committee and Rep. Steven Nickol (R-York) serves as Minority Chair.

Rep. Joe Preston (D-Allegheny) serves as the Majority Chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee and Rep. Bob Godshall (R-Montgomery) serves as Minority Chair.

2/8/2008