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Legislation proves customer choice is a nonpartisian issue

Journal Article · · Electric Light and Power
OSTI ID:456718

A handful of key stakeholders embroiled in the current restructuring of the electric utility industry are prepared to work with the congressional author of a new piece of legislation - as well as with other Congressmen who will introduce similar bills - seeking to require electric utilities to permit their retail customers the right to choose among suppliers. The latest restructuring bill handiwork comes from Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.), who is being credited with initiating the first customer choice bill in 1997. Bumpers` bill, entitled {open_quotes}Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1997,{close_quotes} seeks to give all customers the ability to choose their electricity supplier by 2003. The bill is expected to be among several pieces of similar legislation, which conceivably will bear differences in terms of when customer choice should be implemented along with varying approaches on how to approach a host of other issues that face both utilities (for example, stranded costs) and customers (for example, the cost of service and the quality of service).

OSTI ID:
456718
Journal Information:
Electric Light and Power, Journal Name: Electric Light and Power Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 75; ISSN ELLPAJ; ISSN 0013-4120
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English