Lance Plans Deregulation Task Force

Attorney General Al Lance plans to form a high-level legal task force to provide some guidance on the complex issues surrounding deregulation of the electric utility industry.

“We definitely need that kind of help,” said co-chairman Sen. John Hansen, R-Idaho Falls, after Lance notified him about the task force.

Hansen and Rep. Ron Crane, R-Caldwell, presided over a Statehouse meeting Thursday afternoon of an interim committee on electrical deregulation. In an unusual arrangement, legislative leaders have given the interim panel authority to decide which bills will be introduced on the subject this legislative session, if any.

The attorney general said he planned to assemble four teams in his office as needed to study “the very complex legal issues we need to address.”

Lance said he would use his staff as much as necessary.

The interim committee voted to hold proposed legislation and other deregulation issues for two weeks.