Message-ID: <2992743.1075846204728.JavaMail.evans@thyme>
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 04:58:00 -0800 (PST)
From: robert.hemstock@enron.com
To: richard.sanders@enron.com, richard.shapiro@enron.com, aleck.dadson@enron.com, 
	mark.palmer@enron.com, steven.kean@enron.com, eric.thode@enron.com, 
	tmclaren@gpc.ca, kpeterson@gpc.ca, tburns@gpc.ca, 
	rob.milnthorp@enron.com, peter.keohane@enron.com
Subject: Alberta Gov't News Release on Inquiry into Energy Pricing
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X-From: Robert Hemstock
X-To: Richard B Sanders, Richard Shapiro, Aleck Dadson, Mark Palmer, Steven J Kean, Eric Thode, TMcLaren@GPC.CA, kpeterson@gpc.ca, TBurns@gpc.ca, Rob Milnthorp, Peter Keohane
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Tom Burns from GPC called to advise that his contacts with the Alberta Gov't 
told him that Premier Klein and Justice Minister Hancock intended to put out 
a news release between 1:15pm and 1:30 pm today indicating the Gov't has 
decided to call a hearing/inquiry on energy pricing in Alberta.  Tom does 
not  know what the form of this hearing/inquiry will be (i.e. an AEUB hearing 
or an independent inquiry (judicial or otherwise)) or whether it will involve 
natural gas and power or just power.   Tom's sense was that the mandate of 
the hearing/inquiry would be focused on providing policy makers with a clear 
understanding of the factors that are producing high energy price levels in 
Alberta and whether there are any policy steps that could/should be taken to 
address the current price levels.  He did not think the tone of the news 
release would be that the Government of Alberta needs to put a stop to the 
energy price gouging of consumers in Alberta.

A few minutes ago Tom Burns called me back to advise that Klein has now 
decided to delay the release of the new release until at least tomorrow as 
the Tory caucus has a half-day meeting tomorrow morning and the Premier wants 
to discuss how the Gov't should approach this issue with members of his 
caucus before he proceeds with the idea of a hearing/inquiry.

I have heard nothing from industry players so far about the DJ story except 
the Chairman of the Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta circulated 
the DJ story by email to the members of the IPPSA Board today with the 
following comment:   "It is too bad that the government has resorted to this 
tactic.  I guess they have a lot of pressure on them."

Regards,

Rob