LANSING – The Michigan House on Wednesday rejected Senate changes to a main piece of energy legislation altering the regulation of the state’s electric market, sending the measure to conference committee. Senate and House leaders are planning a mid-August session to deal with the legislation, providing an agreement is reached by then.
House conferees were named to the committee on HB 5524 after the Senate amendments were rejected on a 1-105 vote. The conferees are Rep. Frank Accavitti (D-Eastpointe), Rep. Matt Gillard (D-Alpena) and Rep. Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek).
The measure deals with how much electric choice can be obtained from alternative providers, with both chambers providing a 10 percent threshold but disagreeing on other provisions in the bill.
The House also approved SB 213 , 86-21, sending that back to the Senate with amendments that will then make it part of the conference committee process.
The Senate measure included a 7 percent renewable portfolio standard by 2015. The House substituted its RPS standard into the bill, which is set at 10 percent by the same year.
The Senate will be in session Thursday and a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) said the plan as of Wednesday is to put the remaining bills into conference.
After this week’s session days, both legislative bodies are not scheduled to return until August 13 though there are indications that the Senate will not return until September 9.
Sources said this week that leaders hope a deal on the package will be made by then so both chambers could vote on that date.
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