By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 19 -- A group of 35 Democrats from the US House of Representatives signed letters to President George W. Bush saying the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should refund billions of dollars to energy consumers in California and other Western states.
The group also sent the letter to FERC Chairman Pat Wood, urging FERC to "stop abdicating its duty," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif).
The lawmakers said the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit found in September that FERC unfairly denied billions in potential refunds for price manipulation in natural gas markets during October 2000 through June 2001 (OGJ Online, Apr. 2, 2003).
"Enron [Corp.] and other energy companies manipulated the market in the West. Consumers in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington who have been harmed by the unscrupulous activities of energy suppliers deserve the refunds that FERC has so far denied," the letter said.
California lawmakers said Californians deserve nearly $9 billion in refunds.
