Russ Feingold: “I am pleased that language in the underlying amendment includes more merger oversight authority for FERC, it includes…”

“I am pleased that language in the underlying amendment includes more merger oversight authority for FERC, it includes anti- market manipulation language, and it allows FERC to look at the books. My concern is that if there are not standards about keeping the entities separate, FERC's authority will not be enough to prevent abuses. I am also concerned that State commissions, public service commissions, and others are not able to take care of these kinds of problems because they often do not have the authority to regulate these multi-State entities. That's why small businesses and consumers need increased Federal protection, especially given that this bill repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act.”