MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

9:00 a.m.

Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Troy Fraser, Chair Senator Chris Harris, Vice Chair Senator Kip Averitt Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Kirk Watson		Senator Craig Estes

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

Chairman Fraser made opening comments on Charge #2.  Chairman Fraser called the invited witnesses for Charge #2.

 

The following witnesses testified before the committee:

           

   Barry Smitherman, Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Texas

   Bob Kahn, CEO, ERCOT

   Steve Byone, CFO, ERCOT

   Kent Saathoff, Vice President, System Operations, ERCOT

 

At 12:20 p.m. Chairman Fraser moved that the committee stand recessed for 20 minutes; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 12:45 p.m. the committee reconvened.

 

The following witnesses testified as a panel:

   Carl Richie, Vice President Government Affairs, TXU Energy, AECT

   Steve Davis, Executive Director, Alliance for Retail Markets

   Marcie Zlotnik, Chairman and COO, Startex Power, TEAM

 

At 12:57 p.m. Senator Watson assumed the chair.

 

At 1:25 p.m. Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

 

The following witnesses testified as a panel:

   Tom Standish, President, Regulated Operations, Centerpoint

   Jim Greer, Senior Vice President, Asset Management and Engineering, Oncor

   Pat Wood, former Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

 

The following witnesses testified as a panel:

   David Eves, President and CEO, Southwestern Public Service Company

   Jack Blakley, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Entergy Texas

   Paul Chodak, President and COO, SWEPCO

   David Carpenter, Vice President, Regulatory Services, Controller, El Paso Electric Company

 

At 3:15 p.m. Senator Van de Putte assumed the chair.

 

At 3:20 p.m. Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

 

The following witnesses testified as a panel:

   Carol Biedrzycki, Vice President, Texas Ratepayers Organization to Save Energy

   Tim Morstad, AARP

   Cyrus Reed, Conservation Director, Sierra Club

   Tom 'Smitty' Smith, Director, Public Citizen, Inc.

 

Senator Fraser opened up public testimony on Charge #2.

 

The following witnesses testified before the committee:

 

   Luke Metzger, Director, Environment Texas

   Rich Herweck, Texas CHP Initiative

   Karen Hadden, Energy Advocate, Sustainable Energy and Economic Development       

            Coalition

 

Senator Fraser closed public testimony on Charge #2.

 

There being no further business, at 5:05 p.m. Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

 

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Ellen Scholl, Clerk