Rick Boucher: “The laws in a number of States today tie gas utility returns to the total gas sales volume, with the result that the…”

“The laws in a number of States today tie gas utility returns to the total gas sales volume, with the result that the greater the volume sold, the greater the financial return to the gas utility. That structure clearly serves as a disincentive to the making of efficiency investments by the utilities that would lessen sales volume at the expense of profits by the utility. The gentleman's amendment directs States to consider decoupling sales volumes from economic return in a way that would encourage the making of efficiency improvements. I think it's a step forward in Federal policy, and I am pleased to encourage the adoption of the gentleman's amendment.”