ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST CONGRESS HUNTER L. SPILLAN, Aaron D. EDMONDSON, JOHN MIKEL, and BOB SCHMIDT, For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office A64 1989 Pt.G COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Mississippi, Chairman WILLIAM H. NATCHER, Kentucky NEAL SMITH, Iowa SIDNEY R. YATES, Illinois EDWARD R. ROYBAL, California JOSEPH D. EARLY, Massachusetts LINDY (MRS. HALE) BOGGS, Louisiana W. G. (BILL) HEFNER, North Carolina LES AUCOIN, Oregon DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii WILLIAM H. GRAY III, Pennsylvania BOB CARR, Michigan ROBERT J. MRAZEK, New York RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois RONALD D. COLEMAN, Texas ALAN B. MOLLOHAN, West Virginia LINDSAY THOMAS, Georgia CHESTER G. ATKINS, Massachusetts JIM CHAPMAN, Texas SILVIO O. CONTE, Massachusetts JIM KOLBE, Arizona DEAN A. GALLO, New Jersey FREDERICK G. MOHRMAN, Clerk and Staff Director ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1990 TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1989. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION WITNESS MARTHA O. HESSE, CHAIRMAN, FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Mr. BEVILL. The committee will come to order. We are pleased to have the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Ms. Hesse. You may proceed as you wish, and your prepared statement will be made part of the record. MS. HESSE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to say that it is a pleasure to appear before your subcommittee again. I would like to present a brief summary of what the Commission has been doing this past year and what we hope to accomplish in the next year, and then I will be delighted to answer any questions you may have. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is requesting about $117 million for fiscal year 1990. This request is about $8 million more than 1989 and contains no new programs. In addition, this request reflects a reduction of almost 30 full time equivalents in authorized staffing. However, I believe that this funding level is sufficient to support basic requirements and maintain activities at about the same level as the past three years. Furthermore, with the offsetting collection of fees and annual charges, the FERC will generate sufficient revenues to cover all of its costs. This will result in a net appropriation of $0, for 1990, as in 1989. As you know, the FERC's primary mission is to ensure that consumers get adequate reliable supplies of natural gas and electric power at the lowest possible cost, while providing opportunities to suppliers and transporters of energy to adjust rapidly to the also rapidly changing market conditions. In this connection, the budget request reflects FERC's continuing commitment to rendering of sound decisions in a timely manner, and to addressing fundamental regulatory, safety, and compliance issues in the natural gas, electric, and hydropower programs. In addition, during fiscal year 1990, FERC will continue to deal with the proposals filed to expand pipeline capacity in the Northeast, West, and the Mobile Bay areas of the country. As Chairman, (1) |