PUC Vice Chairman to Discuss Electric Rate Hikes
Citizens' Caucus will host a discussion on electric rate hikes featuring Pennsylvania PUC Vice Chairman Tyrone J. Christy. The event is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at Soup Thyme Restaurant, 2134 West Maple Street (Route 72 N.), Lebanon. Dessert, coffee and other beverages will be served. The public is invited. The cost for attendance is $10.00 for Citizens' Caucus members and $12.00 for non-members.
Christy’s presentation will center on the 1995 Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act, which ended a century of state regulation of generation rates and promised a competitive market for electricity and consumer savings. Reported savings by the Governor Ridge in 2001 were $3 billion per year. But with rate caps imposed in 1997 now set to expire over the next few years, some Pennsylvania consumers are facing retail rate increases in excess of 40% while overall costs statewide, depending upon the increases in fuel costs, is estimated to be as high as $4 billion by analysts.
What went wrong with deregulation? Why is there a $7 billion difference between the 2001 promises of deregulation and current reality? What policy changes must be made by state government to mitigate the effect of rate hikes? What instructions should citizens provide to their legislators? Christy will address these and other questions.
Christy began his career as a staff engineer with the PUC in the mid 1980’s, specializing in the development and management of alternate fuel generation power plants. He was responsible for the addition of 2000 megawatts to Pennsylvania’s generation mix from waste fuel sources. After leaving the PUC’s employ in 1987, he developed a 30 megawatt waste coal plant in Clarion County. A native of Butler County and chemical engineering graduate of Grove City College, Christy was appointed PUC Commissioner by Governor Rendell in 2007.
“In about two years Pennsylvania electrical power customers may be paying about $4 billion more annually in mandated rate increases,” said Herb Braden, Citizens’ Caucus Chairman. “Commissioner Christy is sounding the alarm to the legislature and the media and is taking the lead in Pennsylvania by suggesting that existing electricity pricing policies are costing us jobs and economic growth.”
Citizens' Caucus is a non-partisan, non-sectarian issues study group in Lebanon County. For reservations for this event or information on becoming a member of Citizens’ Caucus, email citizenscaucus@gmail.com or telephone 717.964.1802. Because seating is limited, reservations will only be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is to the rear of the Soup Thyme building.
For More Information:
Herb Braden
717.964.1802