A guide to the Blue Book: Issues in California`s Electric Industry restructuring and reform

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Electricity Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/1040-6190(94)90301-8· OSTI ID:35598

Blumstein, C; Bushnell, J

The California Public Utilities Commission`s proposal to restructure the electricity industry in that state has implications that must be explicitly identified and addressed. Here is a short list of issues that should be confronted forthrightly as the process goes forward. This article is intended as a general guide to the policy issues raised by the California Public Utilities Commission`s Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission`s Restructuring California`s Electric Service Industry and Reforming Regulation (referred to as the `Blue Book`). The Blue Book proposes opening portions of the California electric power industry to further competition and introducing performance-based regulation for the remaining elements of the industry. The electric power market would be divided into two sectors: the direct sector, in which customers buy from their supplier of choice, and the utility service sector in which customers buy from the utility. The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to clarify the choices to be made in pursuing these changes, and the effects of those choices on criteria by which the results of such a restructuring could be evaluated; and (2) to identify issues that present the largest technical challenges to carrying out the Commission`s proposal.

• OSTI ID: 35598
• Journal Information: Electricity Journal, Journal Name: Electricity Journal Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 7; ISSN ELEJE4; ISSN 1040-6190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
CALIFORNIA
COMPETITION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
REGULATIONS