A state legislator looks at industry restructuring
The political challenges of addressing restructuring have caused many state legislators to shy away from the issue. With the start of the 1966 legislative year, 30 states were evaluating at least some aspect of the evolving competitive electric marketplace. Studies included open regulatory dockets (for example in Arizona and Kansas), pilot customer choice projects (such as in Ohio, MIchigan and New Hampshire), legislative studies and possible re-definition of state regulatory parameters (Kansas, Illinois and Florida), regulatory agency fact-finding (Iowa and Idaho) and development of intrastate electric pooling infrastructures (California). In addition, state actions reflect a commitment to competition at the retail level ranging from a call for determination of stranded-cost exposure for the state`s utilities (as in New York), calls for industry and public input on issues related to competition (Rhode Island, Maine, and Kansas) and the customer choice pilot projects. The range of issues and actions has been diverse, but most legislative and regulatory agency discussions have focused on easing market entry restrictions, price considerations and stranded investment by utilities. Many other significant issues must be addressed if an equitable distribution of potential competition benefits to all customer classes, regardless of geographic location, is to be achieved.
- OSTI ID:
- 482391
- Journal Information:
- Public Power, Journal Name: Public Power Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 54; ISSN 0033-3654; ISSN PUPOAG
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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