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Electric utility restructuring and the California biomass energy industry

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/481486· OSTI ID:481486
 [1]
  1. Future Resources Associates, Inc., Berkeley, CA (United States)
A shock jolted the electric power industry in April 1994, when the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced its intention to restructure the industry. The proposal, commonly referred to as retail wheeling, is based on the principle that market deregulation and competition will bring down the cost of electricity for all classes of customers. It would effectively break up the monopoly status of the regulated utilities and allow customers to purchase electricity directly from competing suppliers. According to the original CPUC proposal, cost alone would be the basis for determining which generating resources would be used. The proposal was modified in response to public inputs, and issued as a decision at the end of 1995. The final proposal recognized the importance of renewables, and included provisions for a minimum renewables purchase requirement (MRPR). A Renewables Working Group convened to develop detailed proposals for implementing the CPUC`s renewables program. Numerous proposals, which represented the range of possible programs that can be used to support renewables within the context of a restructured electric utility industry, were received.
Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States); Future Resources Associates, Inc., Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-83CH10093
OSTI ID:
481486
Report Number(s):
NREL/SR--430-22766; ON: DE97000252
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English