Public Utility Commission in the year 2000
This article is about What is and What ought to be as we look to the institution of public utility commission regulation at the turn of the century. To signal my own view at the outset, I find the prospects somewhat worrisome in light of the nature and direction of much of the response to real and imaginary changes in the regulated sectors. I surely do not call for standing in place, but I strongly believe we should leave the place standing. The following items are discernable trends that will shape the PUC at the turn-of-the century: (1) dichotomy of customers into core and noncore groups, (2) unbundling and new service offerings with a menu of prices, (3) relaxed regulation and increased reliance on market solutions instead of command and control, (4) increased use of market-based pricing and incentive ratemaking, (5) large users seeking lowest-cost generation and supply services, (6) shift from old regulatory bargains regarding exclusive territorial franchises and assured recovery of costs and investments, (7) utility diversification, (8) increasing business risk for utilities, amd (9) uncertainty as to continued utility attention to social goals and a changing obligation to serve. For each of these, the author focuses on: (1) changing missions and roles of the PUC, (2) the strategies for achieving them, and (3) the implementation requirements that operationalize the strategies.
- OSTI ID:
- 381185
- Journal Information:
- NRRI Quarterly Bulletin, Journal Name: NRRI Quarterly Bulletin Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 16; ISSN NQBUEK; ISSN 8756-632X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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