Zoe Lofgren: “the sad tale of our energy rip-off in the western United States is really before us today. We started out reacting in a…”

“the sad tale of our energy rip-off in the western United States is really before us today. We started out reacting in a bipartisan way, but, in reviewing the history, I note that after House Republicans met with the Vice President on May 1, 2001, that bipartisan effort did stall. We have tried for 4 years to get results. In June, 2001, the California delegation asked for amendments to H.R. 2246; and the Committee on Rules refused to allow those amendments which would provide a refund for unjust and unreasonable rates. In July, 2001, amendments were offered in the markup in the Committee on Energy and Commerce; and Republicans refused to allow the requirement of refunds in overcharges. In August of 2001, the Committee on Rules refused to make in order an amendment to require refunds of overcharges. In June of 2002, the GAO report indicated that the FERC was really not doing the job, but Congress and the administration did nothing about it. In April, 2003, the effort was made again through H.R. 6 to refund all unjust and unreasonable charges, but, again, we were blocked in that effort. Finally, in May, 2004, Californians, including the attorney general, the chief law enforcement officer of the State of California, filed a lawsuit to try and get the law followed. Now, what is the problem here? We had energy manipulation. We had a theft. California was a crime victim.”