Electric Utility Restructuring

Electric Utility Restructuring

Compiled by Marian Rogers, July 2000

Electric Reliability 2000. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 1999. (381.13/W7b1) A 2–page budget brief providing the background on utility regulation in Wisconsin and key features of the new law as created by Wisconsin’s 1999–2001 biennial budget act. http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/bluebook.htm

Electric Restructuring and the Low–Income Consumer: Legislative Implications for Colorado. Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, 1999. (381.15/F53a) "This report examines the impacts of restructuring on low–income Colorado consumers and considers policy and program options for addressing these impacts", p.1. Chart on pp.105–109 provides information on the status of such restructuring activities in several states.

Electricity Deregulation: State Info Pack. Council of State Governments, States Information Center, 1997. (381.15/C83d) Wide–range of materials about electric utility deregulation.

Electricity Restructuring: Deregulation or Reregulation? Severin Borenstein and James Bushnell, 2000. (381.15/B64)
". . . [P]art of the working papers series of the Program on Workable Energy Regulation (POWER) . . . a program of the University of California Energy Institute . . .", cover.
http://www.ucei.berkeley.edu/ucei/PDF/pwp074.pdf

"Energy: the Power to Choose". Bill Paul, New York Times, March 25, 1998. (381.15/N48a) A special advertising supplement addressing the impact of deregulation on the environment, certain energy–saving technologies, and a state–by–state update.

New Law on Electric Utility Regulation - The "Reliability 2000" Legislation (Part of 1999 Wisconsin Act 9). Wisconsin Legislative Council, 1999. (381.13/W7c4) Describes new provisions relating to holding companies, power transmission, benefits to the public, and other electric utility regulation. Web site includes links to two memoranda. http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lc/enacts.html

Power Loss: the Origins of Deregulation and Restructuring in the American Electric Utility System. Richard F. Hirsh, 1999. (381.15/H61) "In the late 1990s, the . . . utility industry entered an era of freewheeling competition and deregulation, allowing American consumers to buy electricity from any company offering it. [This book] . . . explains how and why this radical restructuring has occurred", Book Jacket.

Reinventing Electric Utilities: Competition, Citizen Action and Clean Power. Ed Smeloff and Peter Asmus, 1997. (381.15/Sm3) A good overview of electricity deregulation with an emphasis on the future of energy, clean (or green) power, and transportation. Includes a resource guide, bibliography, and an index.

"Restructuring and Small Electric Customers". National Conference of State Legislatures, State Legislative Report, July 1998. (381.15/N211a) Presents early restructuring measures in the states. Designed to help electricity consumers have information and the knowledge necessary to benefit from electric utility restructuring.

Restructuring the Electric Industry: a Special Report. Council of State Governments, 1999. (381.15/C83e) ". . . [T]his report identifies the major policy areas that state officials should discuss when deciding whether to restructure and outlines possible solutions", p.7.

"Restructuring the Electric Industry: Will Competition Help or Hurt Consumers?" Congressional Quarterly, Incorporated, CQ Researcher, January 17, 1997. (381.15/C761) Outlines the issues relating to electric utility restructuring in the mid–1990s when states were beginning to implement or investigate restructuring. Includes bibliography.

Toward Deregulation of Michigan’s Electric Utility Industry: What Should We Expect? Michigan Legislature, House Fiscal Agency, 1998. (381.15/M5) In June 1997, Michigan’s retail electric market was opened up to competition by order of the Michigan Public Service Commission. Presents issues relating to the restructuring and gives an overview of the current status of deregulation in Michigan. http://www.house.state.mi.us/hfa/dereg.pdf

"Utility Deregulation: Can the Power Industry Be Opened to Competition?" Congressional Quarterly, Incorporated, CQ Researcher, January 14, 2000. (381.15/C761a) Twenty–four states have opened or plan to open their utilities to competition. Many experts say that rates will be opened by deregulation, but there is still no national plan. Includes bibliography.

Related Web Sites:

http://www.psc.state.wi.us/cases/elecrest/index.htm - Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC). Electric Utility Restructuring Web page. Contains links to hearing notices, recent developments, and PSC discussions of restructuring. Also contains the overview, status, detailed description, and the workplan for utility restructuring in Wisconsin.

http://cis.state.mi.us/mpsc/electric/restruct/ - The Michigan Electric Utility Restructuring page. Hosted by the Michigan Public Service Commission, this site focuses on Michigan information; however, it also has a large number of links to other Web resources.

http://www.me3.org/projects/dereg/ - Sustainable Minnesota: Electric restructuring resources. Comprehensive links to Minnesota’s electric utility restructuring as well as numerous links to information about other states and the nation.

http://www.eren.doe.gov/electricity_restructuring/ - U.S. Department of Energy - Office of Power Technologies in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Use this site for links to documents and Web sites for detailed, up–to–date information on electric utility restructuring.

http://www.nap.edu/issues/14.3/munson.htm - Unleashing Innovation in Electricity Generation. The authors, associated with the Northeast–Midwest Institute, maintain there must be major policy changes to accompany the emerging electric utility technologies.

http://www.nemw.org/restruc_innov_effic.htm - Electricity Restructuring, Innovation, and Efficiency. This paper is based on a larger forthcoming study from the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

http://www.spratley.com/leap/ - The Leap Letter. Every two months, this site gives a national overview of state and federal actions on electric restructuring, as well as other information on state and regional information.

http://www.doe.gov/ceca/ceca.htm - Comprehensive Electricity Competition Act; U.S. Department of Energy. Contains links to the Act, supporting analysis, appendices, and press releases.

http://www.chguernsey.com/frame-index1c.html - Electric Restructuring Links. Maintained by a private consulting group, this site lists the states and provides links to restructuring materials relevant to a state’s activities.

BadgerLink: http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/badgerlink/
Electric utility restructuring: a selection of 9 articles printed from EBSCOhost, 1997–2000. (381.15/EL2)

"Changing Marketplace Jeopardizes Transmission Reliability". Pam Boschee, Electric Light & Power, vol.76, no.7, July 1998.

"Electric Deregulation: Power to the People". Mark Timmerman, Sacramento Business Journal, vol.14, no.33, October 31, 1997.

"Electric Restructuring in East". State Government News, vol.40, no.4, May 1997.

"Electric Restructuring Must Be Resolved". Robin Matchett, New Hampshire Business Review, vol.19, no.8, April 11, 1997.

"Electric Visions". Ryan Oprea, Reason, vol.31, no.8, January 2000.

"Electricity Deregulation". David N. Cook, FDCH Congressional Testimony, April 11, 2000.

"Federal Restructuring Plans Wilt Under Summer Heat Waves". Gerald Garfield and Tara Hart–Nova, Electric Light & Power, vol.77, no.9, September 1999.

"A Market in Transition". Kenneth M. Simon and Larry F. Eisenstat, Independent Energy, vol.27, no.9, November 1997.

"Power Play". Karen Aylsworth, Grand Rapids Business Journal, vol.15, no.20, May 19, 1997.

Clippings: (Noncirculating; available for use in the library; clippings prior to 1981 are on microfiche)

• Electricity - Generation and distribution: 381.13/W7z (WI); 381.15/Z (U.S.)

• Electricity - Regulation and rates: 381.15/W7z (WI); 381.15/Z (U.S.)