NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors opposes a federal mandate to implement retail competition in electricity by a certain date, and that that authority rests with state and local government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges federal lawmakers to ensure that any restructuring proposal includes provisions to preserve local authority to protect the public safety and welfare, provide for universal service and low income assistance, and protect the rights of consumers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports the following principles in all attempts to restructure the delivery of electricity:

Reliability: the appropriate federal, state or local regulatory body or government entity must ensure that all consumers can depend on the long-term integrity, financial and technical capability, safety and reliability of the electric system and electricity service. Revenue Authority: 1) cities should continue to have the authority to issue franchises and/or impose taxes; and 2) no federal action should preempt or interfere with municipal revenue authority including the ability of local governments to issue tax-exempt bonds. Equitable Benefits: fundamental changes to the electric utility industry must be applied to all customers and not be an advantage to large business interests at the expense of residential and rural customers, as well as small businesses. Social and Environmental Impacts: all market participants should contribute equitably to accomplish public policy objectives, such as support of energy efficiency and conservation, environmental programs, renewable energy sources, and alternative energy efforts. Generators should be held to environmental standards, ensuring that cheap power does not carry a pollution penalty for the generating area. Municipal Utilities: any restructuring must maintain the existing powers of municipalities, including the concept of municipal utilities; must not abridge the existing authority of municipal utilities to operate; and must not abridge the ability of cities to form municipal utilities in the future. Rights-of-Way: local governments’ authority to manage their rights-of-way and to receive just compensation for the use thereof must be maintained. Stranded Investments: the determination of stranded investments should be made at the state and local level and be resolved in a way that keeps investors, ratepayers and generators financially whole. Also, any change should honor past regulatory commitments by providing for the recovery of legitimate stranded costs through the appropriate federal, state or local authorities. Aggregation: Cities and/or consumers should have the opportunity to voluntarily aggregate on a local, regional or state-wide basis. All aggregators must be guided by the same rules and regulations as all other competitors to ensure equitable benefits to all consumers and no cost shifting or cost avoidance can occur to the detriment of residential and small business customers. Transition: there should be sufficient transition periods for local governments that are consistent with the magnitude of change to be achieved in order to allow for adaptation to new structures and to avoid disrupting services to the public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors agrees tax policies should create an atmosphere of fair competition and grandfather existing tax-free outstanding debt in all transition rules; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Congress and the President ensure that any restructuring of the electric utility industry includes appropriate protections against the establishment and abuse of market power.