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EPSA Statement on Release of Synapse Study

EPSA Statement on Release of Synapse Study

Study's Sponsors Appear To Be The Real Ones Seeking Windfall Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The following statement was released today by Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) president and CEO John E. Shelk in response to this morning's press conference by APPA, NARUC, NASUCA and NRECA in which they released a study by Synapse Energy Economics on the pending federal climate and energy legislation:

EPSA was the first national multi-fuel electricity association to come out squarely in favor of federal economy-wide, market-based greenhouse gas reduction legislation. We welcome those groups that only more recently have done so.

The competitive power sector has the cleanest generation fleet in the country, bar none, including when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. The competitive power sector is proud of its long-standing leadership at the front of the line in bringing innovation and efficiency to bear in tackling the nation's climate and energy challenges.

Federal climate legislation will require even more innovation and leadership with the ultimate investment of tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars. The legislation places the compliance requirement for annual allowances on generators. Thus, affected generators in all types of markets will need to procure allowances, including those in the organized markets that serve two-thirds of the country.

The study's sponsors want consumers in organized markets to pay twice. First, by purchasing more allowances from them while they and most other generators outside of organized markets receive them for free. Customers in organized markets would pay again to support investments by competitive suppliers in clean energy technologies. This approach punishes both our customers and competitive suppliers for being the nation's leaders in deploying lower carbon power technologies.

CONTACT: JOHN SHELK
(202) 349-0154or 703-472-8660

EPSA is the national trade association representing competitive power suppliers, including generators and marketers. These suppliers, who account for nearly 40 percent of the installed generating capacity in the United States, provide reliable and competitively priced electricity from environmentally responsible facilities serving global power markets. EPSA seeks to bring the benefits of competition to all power customers.