This is a long-term problem, it's a long-term energy crisis, which has not been addressed by either political party.

WHAT WE'RE DEALING with here is a request by the electric company to pass on to its customers costs they have incurred in purchasing power.

I don't think it's our role to sit down with various parties, and come to an agreement, a consensus. We're a regulatory agency, deciding on matters which are brought before us.

If we drop the rates today, and the price increase continues, then in a very short period of time we'd have to raise rates.