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TO: U.S. Elected Official

I am writing to you to express my concern regarding Sen. Bingaman's draft energy bill, the "Electric Restructuring Act of 2001". As currently drafted it favors large utilities at the expense of smaller electric cooperatives. Please tell leadership and your colleagues about my concerns.

The bill as it now reads creates a massive shift in power from state and local authorities to the federal government. This new federal regulation goes as deep as our distribution systems. As currently drafted it would:

· Expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction over cooperative wholesale power sales and transmission would raise the cost of power to our members without any benefits;

· Eliminate the ability of co-ops to self-govern; · Usurp state's rights by giving FERC authority to develop price responsive demand programs, develop a net-meeting program and establish distributed generation interconnection standards;

· Reduce FERC's ability to protect consumers by repealing the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA), which would take away the states' authority to address market power and review mergers exposing consumers to potential market power abuse by monopolies;

· Reduce consumer safeguards by reducing the number of competitors in the electric market, and

· Fail to adequately address the tax code barriers to a truly competitive marketplace.

Of critical importance to me is the fact that net metering will force cooperatives to buy electricity at retail prices from a local generator even though they have a long-term contracts with their power suppliers allowing them to purchase electricity at affordable wholesale prices. A few consumers who generate electricity would receive their electricity at a very low price, while the rest of the consumers would be footing the bill for more expensive power the co-op is forced to buy. Net metering would force an increase in the overall price of electricity for all consumers of MVEA.

I know national energy legislation is priority, especially at this time of turmoil and unease in our country. We want to be a part of the solution. Please don't let us go unheard. Help spread the message that the draft energy bill still needs some important changes to make it fair to everyone in the marketplace.

Thank you for listening to my concerns. We appreciate all the support you give to the nation's electric cooperatives.

Please acknowledge this message, and please let me know what your position is on this very serious matter. This is important to me and to your other constituents.

My personal message to you is:

Sincerely,

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