When
energy deregulation the buzz created almost a decade ago, most people
were unsure what to do, let alone what they think about it. What is it exactly? A
brief history lesson would tell you that this is when the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA) gave the utilities (those
who own the transformers, cables, electrical wires) monopoly over the
provision of electricity started. If
OPEC global oil embargo, a huge wave of electrical usage in the 70s
made, Congress went the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA),
so that the utility company would now renewable energy sources.
Twenty years ago, Congress pushed the utilities, and the federal government are pitted against each other for the competition and the birth of the National Energy Policy Act, which allows for practical energy companies in relation to the acquisition of customer loyalty. In 1996, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published (FERC) Order 888 - which forced her to open the utilities to competitive markets. What we now know that they have the energy deregulation plan was only a pilot program that began in New Hampshire that Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Iceland soon followed. Since these six states allowed deregulation at the state level, people began to demand deregulation at national capacities.
As of this writing, there are now 31 states that have energy deregulation in place, Hawaii not included. One thing to note that California's failed deregulation experiment is also concern in Congress, of course, a great influence on the decision that flying the national electricity deregulation reality.
A few things to note: electricity deregulation at the national level is not only the economic stability through competitive pricing, access to energy resources, sometimes only one or two states can be available for everyone. You would not want your neighbors to get all the free channels while you just sit there getting 20 channels, right? Diversity in consumption is always a good thing.
Economic stability and reputation is enhanced, as this will also create jobs. The more businesses that open as an energy retailer, the more people they need to work as customer service operators, technicians, electricians, etc.
The power of the consumer is at the forefront of electricity deregulation. If all the shots had to utilities providing electricity, never changing customer an option or change companies. But because of this new structure, are delivered in the energy service to the consumer, the power to move you. They have a say in whether or not to keep your provider. You now have the ability to influence these same companies in more than environmentally friendly by using green when it comes to renewable energy.
Finally, be proactive and research. Do your homework and look. Google it. YouTube videos on this topic, read it. Do not stop until you have satisfied your educational thirst is because better informed than ignorant on a subject as important as this.
