Coalition Seeks Delay Of Power Deregulation Group Says Action Would Threaten Strong Economic Asset

A new coalition that combines labor, environmental and farm interests has asked Washington Gov. Gary Locke to delay action on electricity deregulation, which they say could sacrifice one of the state’s biggest economic assets.

Consumers for Common Sense delivered a letter to Locke’s office Friday that suggests deregulation, which gives all electricity consumers a choice of suppliers, would jeopardize low rates, reliability, and funding for energy conservation and environmental protection.

“We hope you would frame the debate by asking all the proponents of change to answer the following question: ‘What problem are we trying to fix?”’ the letter says.

Signers include John Horrocks, business manager of Local 77 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; Bob Joy, grangemaster for the Washington State Grange; and Bill Arthur of the Sierra Club.

Locke’s position on deregulation could determine whether any bill opening Washington’s energy markets goes far in the short 1998 legislative session.

Spokane Republican Rep. Larry Crouse, chairman of the House Energy and Utilities Committee, said last week he would not hold hearings on any deregulation bill that originates in the lower house.

He left the door open to any measure that might clear the Senate.

There, the head of the Energy and Utilities Committee, Redmond Republican Sen. William Finkbeiner, has aggressively pushed for deregulation.

But Finkbeiner said he might back off if Locke, a Democrat, does not indicate support for some action.

“I’d like to see him take a stand that we need to get a bill done this year,” Finkbeiner said. “If he disagrees … then we’ll hold it off.”

In an interview Tuesday, Locke said he was interested in pursuing deregulation, but was led to believe GOP leaders weren’t. He said he planned to meet with the Republicans later this month.

The problem, Finkbeiner said, is that whichever party takes the lead in pushing for deregulation may be vulnerable to opponents in November elections.

“If you go through and ask people on the street what they think about electricity deregulation, you can scare people,” Finkbeiner said. “It’s a complex issue.”

Finkbeiner has redrafted a proposed bill that would completely deregulate markets in favor of a measure based on a Washington Water Power Co. model.

Called the portfolio plan, the proposal allows consumers to buy electricity at market prices, assuming some risk in return for potential savings, or stick with rates set by state regulators.

They would also have access to “green power” from wind or other alternative sources.

WWP Chairman Paul Redmond and Puget Sound Energy Chairman Richard Sonstelie discussed the portfolio plan in a meeting with Locke last week.

Puget opposition helped kill efforts to pass a deregulation bill in this year’s Legislature.

But last month, the utility launched a deregulation program that gives other energy suppliers access to 95,000 of its customers.

, DataTimes