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In his July 25th comments to the panel, Dushaw warned the electric utility systemever dependent on the electric utility workeris threatened by the effects of deregulation. In this era of restructuring, downsizing and economizing have severely cut the ranks of the utility workforce and, not coincidentally, the reliability of the electricity delivery system.

Common sense tells you that if the customer base is growing, and it is, and the workforce that supplies the electricity is shrinking, weve got problems, Dushaw told the Senate committee headed by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). The committee is conducting hearings on national energy policy legislation.

Dushaw urged Congress to endorse guidelines drafted by IBEW and other groups to develop a uniform skills standard for electric utility workers. This would benefit system reliability because utilities would be required to employ only those workers trained to perform work efficiently and safely.

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