THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

                   STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE 
              ON CUTTING ENERGY BILLS AND PROTECTING OUR 
             ENVIRONMENT THROUGH ELECTRICITY RESTRUCTURING

President Clinton and I have a straightforward plan to make cheaper, cleaner power available to every American: let consumers decide who supplies their electricity.

By unleashing competition in America's retail electricity markets, our Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan will produce big benefits for both our economy and our environment. The plan will mean annual savings of $230 for the typical family of four and $20 billion for consumers and businesses across America. It will curb harmful air pollution. And it will provide a down payment on the greenhouse gas reductions needed to avert global warming.

Competition already is beginning to reshape the way we generate and deliver electricity in America. Our common-sense plan will ensure a smooth transition to a new era of consumer choice. It will spur innovation, create new incentives for energy efficiency and nearly triple our use of renewable energy. In short, our plan will deliver clean, reliable and efficient energy for the 21st century.