The following is taken from a statement stuffer that is being distributed by Maine Oil Dealers.

Virtually all of the natural gas, electricity and petroleum sold in the U.S. and worldwide is traded first as commodities in contracts on commodities exchanges worldwide. An agency of the U.S. Goverment, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission [CFTC] is supposed to oversee the daily trading of contracts to ensure markets operate free from manipulation.

Nineteen individuals were indicted in the Enron scandal, a scandal that involved Enron's manipulation of the California electricity market through trades of electricity contracts. Amaranth is now at issue under allegations it manipulated the natural gas markets. Some may believe energy market instability during the last seven years has arisen through an imbalance of supply and demand, while others contend manipulation of the type seen in the Enron and Amaranth scandals is at fault.

S.2058, Senator Carl Levin's (D-MI) "The Close the Enron Loophole Act," started with a GAO investigation of the CFTC's authorities as initially requested by Congressman John Larson. The Maine Oil Dealers Association [www.meoil.com] is our association working with us to protect consumers and has been the driving force with hundreds of similar associations around the country to get this important legislation passed. Join with us in contacting our Maine Congressional delegation and asking each and every one of them to reaffirm their support to pass S.2058 legislation and to make sure energy markets are properly overseen by goverment and free from manipulation.

Senator Susan M. Collins
(202) 224-2523

Senator Olympia J. Snowe
(202) 224-5344

Representative Thomas H. Allen
(202) 225-6116

Representative Michael H. Michaud
(202) 225-6306