Energy Deregulation
In the past, one utility provided the three components of your energy service: generation, transmission and distribution. Legislatures and the public utility commissions (PUC) of many states have created competition for electricity and natural gas supply. This allows consumers to choose their energy supplier, while the delivery of the energy is still regulated and is the responsibility of the local utility company.
Deregulated
With deregulation, you’re able to go direct and choose the company that produces energy, or the company who buys it on your behalf to sell to you.
Regulated
Transmission and Distribution: This is the actual delivery of electricity across poles and wires and natural gas through pipelines to your business by your local utility company. Your utility company is responsible for maintaining the poles and wires, or pipelines, and responding to emergencies and power outages. The public utility regulates transmission and distribution to ensure the safety and reliability of your services.
Competitive marketplace among energy suppliers. Flexibility to create an energy strategy that suits your individual needs. Freedom to choose suppliers, products, prices and terms. Reliability-transmission and distribution regulated and guaranteed by the PUC. Price protection from market volatility and rising costs-budget with potential savings, including tax savings in some markets.
- 41 states in the U.S. are NOW deregulated -
Major advantage of energy deregulation is the benefit to the environment by allowing consumers to choose smarter, more efficient means of energy if they do not support the environmental consequences of using certain energy types such as coal. This also means that companies will be held to higher standards of efficient and environmentally friendly business practices when providing power. In the end, this will help ensure that the area you live in is provided with a clean and efficient energy source while causing less pollution to the environment.
Energy deregulation also increases jobs which benefits local towns, cities, and communities. Many home-based business have popped up from companies who are interested in hiring local individuals to reach out to other consumers in order to educate and assist them with making smart energy provider choices. Many people who have been laid off in the recent crisis can now find jobs right from the comfort of their own homes giving them an opportunity that would not be available without the deregulation of the energy industry.
