Deregulation of the electric power industry

Abstract

Whether willing participants or not, the United States, as a nation, have embarked on a grand experiment in electric service competition. Those who favor this competition claim that open electric markets will bring better service, lower rates and a more robust economy. Opponents believe the more likely result will be a downsized workforce, unreliable service quality, higher rates for average consumers, and local maybe even national economic decline. Here, the author presents an overview of electric utility industry deregulation in the USA.