Jerry Lewis: “Mr. Chairman, I rise again only to say that the history of this is very, very important. Well over a year ago in San…”

“Mr. Chairman, I rise again only to say that the history of this is very, very important. Well over a year ago in San Diego, California, as a result of ill-placed policies developed in the State legislature, we found ourselves faced with an energy crisis. Some way, somehow the chairman of our public utilities commission in California advised the Governor that it was not a crisis and as a result of that literally they did nothing. The State legislature and the Governor has done nothing during this last year and a half. Now suddenly they are recognizing the crisis and asking Washington some way to figure out how they got there and how they ought to get out. The fact is that electrons do not know the limits of San Diego or of California. We are in a regionwide crisis. That crisis is beginning to be dealt with by some actions by FERC, only after long awaiting the Governor and the State legislature to come forth with actions of their own. Mr. Chairman, there is little question that we face a crisis in the West. But this proposal of price caps will only undermine the short-term efforts that are being made here but could potentially destroy our hope for a long-term solution which involves more and new energy sources in California.”