DATCP: Governor Doyle Announces Recommendations to Reduce Energy Costs for Wisconsin Families

Contacts:
Robin Engel, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, 608-224-5002

Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

Calls on Wisconsin Congressional Delegation to Move

Forward on Oil Hearing Report’s Recommendations

Governor Jim Doyle today announced a series of recommendations designed to reduce home heating and gas costs for Wisconsin families. The recommendations come out of a new report compiled by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection based on the findings of the hearing on gas and oil profits Governor Doyle convened in December.

“This hearing was about getting answers,” Governor Doyle said. “Wisconsin was the only state in the nation to bring the oil company executives in for a public hearing. And although our panel didn’t always like what they heard, we made great progress towards understanding the factors leading to the dramatic price fluctuations we have seen in our energy markets, and what we can do to reduce the vulnerability of Wisconsin residents.”

The report details the proceedings and findings of the hearing panel, and lays out recommendations for ensuring that Wisconsin families are never again subjected to the skyrocketing energy costs they have suffered through this fall and winter. The report will be delivered to Congress, the Bush Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation.

Recommendations outlined in the report include:

o Greater energy independence for Wisconsin and the United States by accelerating the development of renewable fuels and energy sources;
o Full and immediate federal funding for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to ensure that the most vulnerable populations are able to heat their homes this winter;
o Review by federal government of oil industry mergers and the natural gas market to ensure that our energy marketplace is operating efficiently, and to the benefit of consumers;
o Creation of a Strategic Refinery Reserve by Congress to decrease the vulnerability of the United States to weather-related energy disruptions;
o Calling on the major oil companies to contribute portion of profits to heating assistance; and
o Review by Public Service Commission of the natural gas market, and measures that could be taken to guard against consumer price fluctuations in the future.

The full report is available online at: http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/cp/consumerinfo/alerts-recalls/energy_costs.jsp.

“We’re doing everything we can on the state level to help families deal with rising energy prices,” Governor Doyle said. “But there is only so much we can do. It is time for the President and Congress to get serious about energy conservation and the development of alternative fuels to keep the United States running strong. And it is time for the oil companies to demonstrate the same civic responsibility that average Wisconsin families did in the wake of those terrible hurricanes.”

To assist Wisconsin residents struggling with rising energy costs, Governor Doyle announced his Energy Help Initiative in September. The initiative doubled Wisconsin’s commitment to energy assistance by providing an additional $16 million for low-income heating assistance, called for public utilities to do more to help families pay their bills, established a toll-free number citizens can call for information on how to save energy, and joined Wisconsin with seven other Midwest states to reduce overall natural gas consumption with a goal of decreasing the cost of the fuel.

For more about the Governor’s Energy Help Initiative visit http://energyhelp.wi.gov.