Utilities: Law would mean higher prices

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers will face higher electricity prices if Congress passes a global-warming bill without giving utilities some allowances to emit greenhouse gases, electricity providers warned Thursday.

These higher prices would be the result of legislation that would put a price on the gases linked to global warming.

The providers say the best way to keep the electricity sector from passing on the cost of reducing greenhouse gases is to initially give away allowances to emit pollution, not sell them, as proposed by President Barack Obama.