Binz Bak

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binz

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Aug. 8, 2013 6:13 p.m. ET

As former commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, we object to your July 30 editorial " Ron Binz's Rules for Radicals" criticizing Ron Binz, the president's nominee to chair the FERC, and implying that the FERC is pursuing an agenda unconstrained by law or national policy.

Mr. Binz is criticized for helping draft, at his governor's request, provisions of new utility legislation in Colorado. The law requires utilities to submit regulatory plans so that coal plants comply with expected Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Mr. Binz's commission implemented the law, issuing a balanced decision that closed older, heavier-emitting coal plants while outfitting newer coal plants with emissions controls.

Vested interests sued, but a reviewing court vindicated Mr. Binz, stating, "Commissioner participation in the legislative process is inherent in the PUC's duty." Inexplicably, the Journal fails to mention this.

The Journal seems to believe regulatory agencies have only a judicial role. But when an agency exercises its congressional-given rule-making authority, it is legislating; when it rules on a complaint, it acts as a judge. You are wrong to suggest this arrangement, common in regulatory agencies, is improper.

The electric and gas industry faces large economic and environmental pressures. We need talented, thoughtful regulators protecting consumers and ensuring adequate energy infrastructure is built.

Mr. Binz has an impressive 34-year career in energy policy. If the Senate confirms him, we think he will be a fair and impartial judge and further the public interest within the FERC's authority.

Over Republican and Democratic administrations, FERC has judiciously exercised the dual authority Congress has given it. FERC has a long nonpartisan tradition, and Ron Binz fits squarely within that tradition.

Vicky Bailey, Linda Breathitt, Nora Mead Brownell,

James Hoecker, Joe Kelliher, Suedeen Kelly, Betsy Moler, Clifford Naeve, Donald Santa, Marc Spitzer, Branko Terzic, Pat Wood III

The writers are all former FERC commissioners.

Your editorial mischaracterizes the implementation of Colorado's Clean Air, Clean Jobs Act. The plan stemmed from bipartisan legislation, was based on successful approaches already deployed in other states, and had the support of a broad coalition of stakeholders—in short, it was far from radical. It also enabled us to meet EPA regulations at a much lower cost than if we had waited. The results speak for themselves: Customer costs remain well below national averages, emissions were reduced by more than 80% and fuel diversity—critical for managing customer costs going forward—was significantly enhanced. The Colorado electrical system is well poised for the future as a result of this plan.

Our industry faces many challenges that require a careful balancing of interests and thoughtful solutions. Constructive approaches that benefit both customers and the environment should be applauded, rather than chastised. Regulators such as Mr. Binz can play a key role in crafting such forward-looking approaches and should be encouraged to do so.

Ben Fowke

Chairman, President and CEO

Xcel Energy

Minneapolis

As a Colorado resident for the past 40-plus years, I am most interested in your editorial about Ron Binz and his impact on utility rates in Colorado.

Over the past 10 years, our electricity use has barely changed, yet our bills have more than tripled during that same period. What once would have been considered a very high winter bill for our all-electric house is now a low summer bill with all its various adjustments for seasonal demand and renewable energy, to name but two of the items on this monthly bill. We have written to Xcel and to the Public Utilities Commission regarding these increases and received only the standard response: Shut up and pay up.

We'd never heard of Ron Binz, but if he does for America as he has done for Colorado, hold on to your checkbooks, for it will mean a major increase in the cost of your energy. And expect no hearing from a board of regulators dominated by politics, not by reason.

Marion Anderson

Idaho Springs, Colo.

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his bio note mkt?

<span style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';">Binz most recently served as the Chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.  He was appointed by Colordo Governor Bill Ritter in January 2007 and served until April 2011.  As Chairman, Ron led the Colorado PUC in implementing the many policy changes championed by the Governor and the Legislature to bring forward Colorado’s “New Energy Economy.”<br style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';" />

<span style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';">Ron was an active member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, serving as Chair of NARUC’s Task Force on Climate Policy, and as a member of both the Energy Resources and Environment Committee and the International Affairs Committee.  He is a member of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group, the Keystone Energy Board and served on the Advisory Council to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).<br style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';" />

<span style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';">Prior to his appointment, Ron was President of Public Policy Consulting, specializing in policy and regulatory issues in the telecommunications and energy industries. His clients include state agencies, business associations, consumer organizations, renewable energy advocates, and telecommunications carriers.<br style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';" />

<span style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';">Ron also served from 1996 to 2003 as President of the Competition Policy Institute (CPI), based in Washington, D.C. <span style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';">CPI was a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing competition to telecommunications and energy markets in ways that benefit consumers. <br style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';" />

<span style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';">From 1984 to 1995, Ron directed the Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel, the state's utility consumer advocate. His office represented residential, small business and agricultural utility consumers before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, federal regulatory agencies and the courts.  While Consumer Counsel, Ron served as President of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA). <br style=" color: rgb(31, 63, 158); font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book';" />

<li>Click <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rbinz.com/documents/BinzResumeCurrent.pdf">HERE</a> for Ron Binz's complete resume.</li>

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