Industrial users wary of electric regulatory reform

Journal Article · Mon Apr 25 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Energy User News; (United States)

OSTI ID:6360886

Kennedy, J B

Industrial consumers, as represented by the Electricity Consumers Resource Council (ELCON), are dubious about efforts to reform state utility regulation by putting it on a regional basis. They doubt that state regulators will yield their power just to dissipate public reaction to rate increases or that the public will permit it, although they see merit in regional cooperation and planning. A reform proposal for deregulation of electric utilities has merit in terms of economic efficiency, according to ELCON's Executive Director, but reform proposals are not warranted on the ground that the present regulatory process has failed or that any change will be for the better. If commissioners are careful to follow regulatory procedures, some of the demand for reform would diminish. Whether the consumers will benefit from deregulation is not clear, especially during the transition period. If industries increase their cogenerating and self-generating trend, for example, utilities will have only residential and commercial users to carry the costs. Industrial users oppose a shift to elected commissioners. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 6360886
• Journal Information: Energy User News; (United States), Journal Name: Energy User News; (United States) Vol. 8:17; ISSN EUSND
• 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-)
COOPERATION
DEREGULATION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
MODIFICATIONS
PUBLIC RELATIONS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RATE STRUCTURE
REGIONAL COOPERATION
REGULATIONS