Date: 02/02/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1147

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Move to amend the bill on Page 2, line 17, after t
Moved to refer House Bill 06-1147, as amended, to 		Pass Without Objection
PASS


09:38 AM -- House Bill 06-1147

Representative Plant, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1147 which directs the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adopt rules establishing funding and cost-recovery mechanisms for distributors of natural gas to engage in conservation and energy efficiency programs.

09:42 AM

Doug Dean, Director of the PUC, spoke in opposition to the bill. Mr. Dean stated that the PUC is not opposed to energy conservation measures, but believes that any such measure should benefit a broad base of rate payers; he stated that the bill does not do that. Citing the electric demand-side management program, he stated that 100 percent of the energy customers will be paying into the program, while only 4 percent of the customers will actually benefit from it. Mr. Dean stated that the bill is unfair to low-income individuals and businesses and he does not believe the legislation will improve air quality.

09:54 AM

Fred Stoffel, Vice President of Policy Development for Xcel Energy, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Stoffel discussed the impact the legislation would have on Xcel's customers and discussed energy efficiency programs Xcel already has in place.

10:10 AM

Howard Gellar, Executive Director of the South West Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Gellar discussed national, state, and local energy efficiency codes and regulations currently in place. Mr. Gellar stated that it is easier to change natural gas consumption than natural gas prices and that there is a savings of $2-$3 dollars for every $1 spent on energy efficiency programs.

BILL:HB06-1147
TIME: 10:30:43 AM
MOVED:Green
MOTION:Move to amend the bill on Page 2, line 17, after the word "PURCHASES", insert "NATURAL". The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:McFadyen
VOTE
Borodkin
Green
Hefley
Knoedler
Larson
Lindstrom
Ragsdale
Sullivan
Welker
McFadyen
Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

BILL:HB06-1147
TIME: 10:31:22 AM
MOVED:Larson
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 06-1147, as amended, to the House Appropriations Committee. The motion passed 6-5.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Borodkin
Yes
Green
Yes
Hefley
No
Knoedler
No
Larson
Yes
Lindstrom
Yes
Ragsdale
No
Sullivan
No
Welker
No
McFadyen
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS