Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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	Press Releases June 23, 2003   LIEBERMAN INVESTIGATION LEADS TO OVER $50 MILLION FOR CALIFORNIA RATEPAYERS   WASHINGTON - Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., Wednesday said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s settlement of its investigation into Enron’s California wind farms was “long overdue good news for California consumers.” As a result of FERC’s ruling, ratepayers in California will recoup an estimated $52 million to $58 million dollars. FERC opened its investigation into Enron's wind farms last fall on the eve of a Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearing into FERC's failure to adequately regulate Enron. The hearing, called by Lieberman, who was committee chairman at the time, and a related committee staff investigation documented that Enron overcharged California ratepayers by exploiting weaknesses in FERC's own regulatory process governing the wind farms. Under federal law, the wind farms were potentially eligible for special rate treatment - meaning consumers could be charged a higher price for the electricity they generated - but only if the wind farms were not owned by a public utility or any owner of a public utility - which Enron was. Enron filed documents with FERC asserting, first, that it had sold 50 % of its interests in the wind farms, and later that it qualified for an exemption from the law. Although both assertions turned out to be untrue, FERC never scrutinized Enron’s filings to see if the claims were supported. Instead FERC let Enron continue to charge the higher, preferential rates. “I'm pleased that, at least in this chapter of the Enron debacle, ratepayers in California are going to receive over $50 million of their money back," said Lieberman. “It should not have taken a Senate Committee investigation to force FERC to do its job and address this problem, but I'm glad that it did.”   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 June 2003 Press Releases May   |  July   --   2002   |  2004     June 30 - Lieberman, Cantwell Take Federal Energy Regulators to Task for Wall Street Phone Calls   June 29 - Lieberman Hails Independent Report on Homeland Security Funding for Confirming Bush Administration's Inadequate Commitment   June 27 - Lieberman Co-Sponsors Legislation to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King with Congressional Gold Medal   June 23 current Press Release   June 17 - Lieberman Works for Cities and Counties, Hike in Homeland Security Funding   June 16 - Lieberman Praises Supreme Court Decision on Corporate Contributions   June 16 - Lieberman Says Homeland Security IG Report on Texas Flap is Inadequate   June 16 - Dodd, Lieberman Announce $24 Million for Connecticut First Responders, Critical Infrastructure   June 13 - Lieberman Requests Immediate Re-Evaluation of Department of Education Revisions   June 11 - Lieberman Joins in Introducing Domestic Partnership Benefits for Gay and Lesbian Federal Employees   June 11 - Dodd, Lieberman Announce $2 Million to Protect Connecticut Ports   June 9 - More Flaws Found in Bidding on Iraqi Reconstruction Contracts   June 8 - Lieberman Asks for Details of Delay, Other Contacts with White House on Texas Redistricting Dispute   June 5 - Lieberman Demands Explanation From Treasury For Suppressing Long-term Budget Analysis
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Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510