Rep. Reschke raises concerns over increasing burden on the electrical grid

SALEM, Ore.- Yesterday, the House Committee on Energy and Environment offered us a glimpse of what is to come during the short session. House Bill 4066 would authorize the Public Utility Commission to allow electric companies to recover costs for electric vehicle investments from ratepayers. Republicans on the House Committee on Energy and Environment expressed concerns about the consequences of what will occur by increasing the demand for electricity while at the same time decreasing capacity.

“Accelerating the transition to electric vehicles is putting the cart before the horse,” said Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls), a member of the Energy and Environment Committee. “Increasing these infrastructure expenses ignores the capacity constraints of our existing electrical grid.”

Critics are concerned that expediting the demand of electricity will test the capacity of the electrical grid.

“The Supermajority has shown a concerning pattern of passing legislation of unintended consequences,” said Rep. Reschke. “What happens when the grid fails? We are literally burning the bridge before we cross it, while being told by the utility companies and PUC that everything will be ok. That’s not good enough for Oregonians. We don’t want to end up like California with brownouts. We need an electrical grid we can rely on.”

Other Republican members of the House Committee on Energy and Environment include vice-chair Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) and Representative David Brock Smith (R- Port Orford).

Press release provided by the Office of E. Werner Reschke, Representative of Oregon, District 56 - Klamath Falls.