Advocacy Alert
March 23, 2009The Chamber’s Legislative Committee is concerned about several bills in Annapolis relating to energy re-regulation—SB 795/HB 1312, and SB 844/HB 1530.
SB 795 and SB 844 (cross filed as: HB 1312 & HB 1530) will end consumer choice for purchasers of electricity including commercial and industrial buyers. These bills would essentially call for power plants to be either sold back to the regulated utilities and electricity fully regulated, or for all new plants going forward to be regulated. This means the end of customer choice and an end to the many chamber-based electricity purchasing cooperatives like the one the Howard County Chamber of Commerce is currently initiating.
We oppose such efforts because they would be costly to rate payers and would return the risk of building, owning and operating power plants to Maryland’s electricity customers. If passed, re-regulation bills could have a significant impact on commercial and industrial customers who purchase electricity in a competitive marketplace.
Bill Status:
The Senate bills have been heard by the Senate Finance Committee but have not been reported out as of this writing. Senator Kittleman sits on this Committee. The house bills go before the House Economic Matters Committee next week—Delegate Warren Miller is on this Committee. Members of both Committees as well as your representatives need to hear from you on this issue.
What to Do: Contact the members listed below (Howard County Delegation and members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Economic Matters Committee) and urge them to preserve consumer choice. Ask them to continue the transition to a fully competitive market for all energy consumers both large and small.
Suggested E-Mail Subject Lines:
- Please Preserve Consumer Choice
- SB 795/SB 844 -- Oppose
- HB 1312/HB 1530 -- Oppose
What to Say/Sample Language:
I write in opposition to the energy re-regulation bills currently being considered in Annapolis and ask that you continue the transition to a fully competitive energy market for all consumers.
These bills would essentially call for power plants to be either sold back to the regulated utilities and electricity fully regulated, or for all new plants going forward to be regulated. This also means the end of customer choice and of the many chamber-based electricity purchasing cooperatives like the one the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, of which I am a member, offers.
**If you can, explain the benefits of consumer choice to your company and tenants
Again, I urge you to oppose these current energy re-regulation bills and urge you preserve consumer choice.
Who to Contact:
Howard County Senators
Senator Allan H. Kittleman
410-841-3671
allan.kittleman@senate.state.md.us
Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer
410-841-3653
edward.kasemeyer@senate.state.md.us
Senator James Robey
410-841-3572
james.robey@senate.state.md.us
Howard County Delegates
Delegate Gail Bates
410-841-3556
gail.bates@house.state.md.us
Delegate Warren Miller
410-841-3582
warren.miller@house.state.md.us
Delegate Steven DeBoy, Sr.
410-841-3328
steven.deboy@house.state.md.us
Delegate James Malone, Jr.
410-841-3378
james.malone@house.state.md.us
Delegate Elizabeth Bobo
410-841-3205
elizabeth.bobo@house.state.md.us
Delegate Shane Pendergrass
410-841-3139
shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us
Delegate Guy Guzzone
410-841-3471
guy.guzzone@house.state.md.us
Delegate Frank Turner
410-841-3246
frank.turner@house.state.md.us
Senate Finance Committee
Chair, Senator Thomas Middleton
410-841-3616
thomas.mclain.middleton@senate.state.md.us
Vice-Chair, Senator John Astle
410-841-3578
john.astle@senate.state.md.us
Senator George Della
410-841-3600
george.della@senate.state.md.us
Senator Nathaniel Exum
410-841- 3148
nathaniel.exum@senate.state.md.us
Senator Rob Garagiola
410-841-3169
rob.garagiola@senate.state.md.us
Senator Barry Glassman
410-841-3603
jbarry.glassman@senate.state.md.us
Senator Delores Kelley
410-841-3606
delores.kelley@senate.state.md.us
Senator Allan H. Kittleman
410-841-3671
allan.kittleman@senate.state.md.us
Senator Katherine Klausmeier
410-841-3620
katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us
Senator E. J. Pipkin
410-841-3639
ej.pipkin@senate.state.md.us
Senator Catherine Pugh
410-841-3656
catherine.pugh@senate.state.md.us
House Economic Matters Committee
Chair, Delegate Dereck E. Davis
410-841-3519
dereck.davis@house.state.md.us
Vice Chair, Delegate David D. Rudolph
410-841-3444
david.rudolph@house.state.md.us
Delegate Charles Barkley
410-841-3001
charles.barkley@house.state.md.us
Delegate Aisha N. Braveboy
410-841-3707
aisha.braveboy@house.state.md.us
Delegate Emmett C. Burns, Jr.
410-841-3352
emmett.burns@house.state.md.us
Delegate Brian J. Feldman
410-841-3186
brian.feldman@house.state.md.us
Delegate Jeannie Haddaway
410-841-3429
jeannie.haddaway@house.state.md.us
Delegate Hattie N. Harrison
410-841-3486
hattie.harrison@house.state.md.us
Delegate C. Sue Hecht
410-841-3472
sue.hecht@house.state.md.us
Delegate Rick Impallaria
410-841-3334
rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us
Delegate Sally Jameson
410-841-3337
sally.jameson@house.state.md.us
Delegate James J. King
410-841-3510
james.king@house.state.md.us
Delegate Ruth M. Kirk
410-841-3802
ruth.kirk@house.state.md.us
Delegate Carolyn J. Krysiak
410-841-3303
carolyn.krysiak@house.state.md.us
Delegate Mary Ann E. Love
410-841-3511
maryann.love@house.state.md.us
Delegate Roger Manno
410-841-3883
roger.manno@house.state.md.us
Delegate James N. Mathias, Jr.
410-841-3431
james.mathias@house.state.md.us
Delegate Brian K. McHale
410-841-3319
brian.mchale@house.state.md.us
Delegate Warren Miller
410-841-3582
warren.miller@house.state.md.us
Delegate Joseph J. Minnick
410-841-3332
joseph.minnick@house.state.md.us
Delegate Donna M. Stifler
410-841-3278
donna.stifler@house.state.md.us
Delegate Herman L. Taylor, Jr.
410-841-3380
herman.taylor@house.state.md.us
Delegate Michael L. Vaughn
410-841-3691
michael.vaughn@house.state.md.us
Delegate Mary Roe Walkup
410-841-3449
mary.roe.walkup@house.state.md.us