Don Nickles: “I thank the Senator for that viewpoint. Do not misinterpret what we are saying. This is not about ``spreading the pain''…”

“I thank the Senator for that viewpoint. Do not misinterpret what we are saying. This is not about ``spreading the pain'' around to everybody. Rather, what we are saying is that if a municipally-owned or cooperatively-owned utility makes a strategic business decision to go into the competitive interstate bulk power market to earn profits, then it ought to play by the same rules as everybody else. And once they enter that market, it is important that the market competition takes place on a level playing field, or else competition will be diminished and consumers will suffer. So I would like to go forward, in conference, and work with my friend, Senator Murkowski, and others of like mind, to correct this situation and ensure equal treatment for all who chose to compete in the interstate wholesale electricity market.”