The developing fuel crisis is important because it may provide indirect evidence concerning y2k related problems in the petroleum industry. Prior to roll over these sorts of events were predicted as likely outcomes of embedded system and computer softwarte problems.

Senator Dodd calls on president to release emergency funds for home heating oil crisis

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., has asked President Clinton to release emergency energy assistance money to help offset the rapid rise in home heating oil prices.

Dodd said he also asked the president to tap into the nation's strategic oil reserve for the first time since 1990.

An unprecedented increase in wholesale prices heating oil increased more than 30 cents Friday could result in prices as high as $2 a gallon, Dodd said.

He said the president should release some of the $300 million held in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to make sure low-income people can afford to heat their homes.

Dodd said his office has been inundated with calls and e-mails during the last week from people concerned about the high prices as temperatures have plummeted.

''This is putting incredible pressure both on price and supply,'' Dodd said.

Other members of Connecticut's Congressional delegation were expected to co-sign the letter to Clinton.

The price increases have also caught the attention of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. He said Friday his office is examining the higher prices to make sure no illegal price gouging is taking place.

''The increases in spot prices along with the very significant reductions in OPEC supply and world inventories may well be a factor. The question is whether that is enough to explain the entire phenomenon,'' Blumenthal said.

AP-ES-01-25-00 0106EST

Link to story:

http://courant.ctnow.com/news/apwire/Jan25-APwire_23282.stm

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), January 25, 2000

Answers

In this case, I think Carl is right. However, I believe the key is not oil, but *Senator Dodd* (co=chair with Sen. Bennett). His feet need to be held to the fire on this one.

-- Bud Hamilton (budham@hotmail.com), January 25, 2000.

The fire needs to be felt by the men who drug their feet throughout our entire Y2K prep effort -- the president and the front-running Democratic presidential candidate, VP Gore, not one of the very few in Washington who continuously sounded the necessary alarm, Sen Dodd.

We also need to dig deep to see just how much of the oil situation is Y2K computer bug related and how much is greed.

-- Kenton Johnson (Kenton@CompWellness.com), January 26, 2000.