Senior News July, 2001 Vol. 20. No.  7

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

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Vacationing at home

Crescent City: First Northcoast Redwoods Writers Conference scheduled in September

High cost of energy: Cal. Commission on Aging files amicus curiae brief in FERC petition

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High cost of energy
Cal. Commission on Aging files amicus curiae brief in FERC petition
by Mary Dennison

The California Commission on Aging has announced a recent action taken on behalf of seniors threatened by the energy crisis.

On June 6, the CCoA filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Senator Burton, Assembly Member Hertzberg and the City of Oakland, in their petition with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. As the principal advocacy organization on behalf of California's seniors, the commission is seeking to ensure "just and reasonable" wholesale electricity rates. This is of exceptional importance to all people of California, but in particular to the older Californians living on fixed incomes.

The California energy crisis literally forces older people to make life-threatening choices. Many may have to decide between purchasing vital prescriptions and paying their rent, mortgage, food and utility bills. The crisis is especially dire for people on fixed incomes.

The commission voted to support the efforts of Burton and Hertzberg, both of whom have appointees on the commission, when they began receiving phone calls from desperate seniors seeking assistance with their utility bills. The commission joined with the Triple A Council of California to survey the 33 Area Agency on Aging Advisory Councils across the state to determine the extenT of the problem and solutions being sought and provided locally.

We hope this action lends support to California's efforts to bring the energy crisis under control. We don't want to repeat what happened in Chicago several years ago when more than 100 people, mostly seniors, died during a heat wave.

The CCoA is a 25-member body appointed by the governor and state legislature. The commission's purpose, as provided in the Older Californians Act, is to advocate and advise the governor, state legislature and state agencies, including the Department of Aging, on senior-related issues.

Mary Dennison is both a commissioner on the California Commission on Aging and a representative of Humboldt and Del Norte counties on the California Senior Legislature. She welcomes questions about senior issues at 707-442-3164.