Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today attacked the actions of Enron Corporation employees for discussing the manipulation of the California power market during the Western energy crisis in 2000-2001.  In tapes of telephone conversations released yesterday, Enron traders openly joked about stealing money from California consumers.  A class action lawsuit is currently pending before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Some analysts estimate that Californians alone were cheated out of $9 billion.

Lee joined other California Congressional Democrats last month in an amicus brief to the 9th Circuit, demanding that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) move more quickly in its case against the energy companies to ensure that Californians are returned the money that they were overcharged.

“I am disgusted by these tapes and the actions of these Enron officials,” said Lee, “They do confirm, however, our belief that Enron and other energy companies willingly manipulated the energy market. We must crack down on these illegal business practices, and the FERC must move more quickly to return the billions that California consumers are owed.”

 

                                                                                                            ###