Mid-Atlantic Utility Commissioners Issue Resolution Supporting National Standard Market Design

July 30, 2003 -- As the U.S. Senate debates federal energy legislation, state utility commissioners from the Mid-Atlantic region yesterday issued a resolution supporting national Standard Market Design to foster efficient wholesale electricity generation markets.

The commissioners supporting this resolution are attending the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners 2003 Summer Committee Meetings in Denver this week.

The Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners released a resolution that: Commends the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its efforts to implement effective competitive wholesale electricity markets Encourages Congress to promote a national policy of wholesale electric competition by allowing equal and open access to the interstate transmission grid and permitting the timely implementation of Standard Market Design Asks Congress to resist paralyzing existing competitive wholesale electricity markets by adopting any legislative provision that delays the implementation of standard wholesale market rules or orders by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to continue the implementation of rules providing for operational control and planning of the electric grid by independently governed regional transmission organizations Encourages regulators and all other participants to work together for effective and vibrant wholesale power markets.

The Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners is made up of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia. Virginia did not support the resolution.