Telecommunications: a trillion-dollar dividend for electric utilities

Journal Article · · Power Line; (United States)

OSTI ID:6057753

Nogee, A

The Southern Company will begin testing the TranstexT system, which uses standard television sets and touch-tone phones to interact with 200 Atlanta customers and provide a variety of servies. Utility diversification into telecommunications is a solution to surplus cash for utilities with completed construction programs as well as a new tool for load management. With existing rights-of-way and billing relationships with homes and workplaces, electric utilities could be formidable competitors in this new field. Regulators and ratepayers are concerned about the diversion of capital and personnel and with the potential for unfair competition with the telephone companies. The new trend will complicate the task of state regulation.

• OSTI ID: 6057753
• Journal Information: Power Line; (United States), Journal Name: Power Line; (United States) Vol. 9:11-13; ISSN POLID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320603* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Public Utilities-- (1980-)
COMMUNICATIONS
COMPETITION
DIVERSIFICATION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGULATIONS