HIGH PRIORITY!!!

HB 25 (Rep. Alan Olson, R-Roundup) — THE ENERGY RE-REGULATION BILL.  MEIC Position: SUPPORT AS AMENDED.

Ten years ago, the Montana Legislature made one of the greatest public policy blunders in recent history, with the enactment of Senate Bill 390 — the electric utility deregulation bill. The fallout was even worse than the opponents (including MEIC) expected, with a cascade of unintended, devastating consequences to Montana’s ratepayers, economy, and environment. Now, ten years later, Montana has an opportunity for a major course-correction.

The conference committee on HB 25 adopted two amendments. One was to clarify that coal-fired generators can sequester their emissions off-site, which is perfectly reasonable. The other was to remove the immediate effective date, which means the bill would take effect in October 2007. This was a concession to the backers of the proposed Highwood Generating Station in Great Falls, allowing them additional time to gather customers to try to make their project work. (Two other amendments, that would have extended the effective date even farther into the future, were both wisely defeated.) While this second amendment weakens the bill somewhat, the bill is still a very positive measure for addressing the damage caused by deregulation. [SEE FACT SHEET ON HB 25 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT.] 

Read Guest Opinion by MEIC's Patrick Judge: "Senate amendments best answer to deregulation debacle"

• Passed by Legislature and signed into Law by Governor Schweitzer on 5/14/07.