Wonder

Research Outline

Prepared for Harris V. | Delivered January 6, 2020

Regulated Utilities

Goals

To understand what are the arguments for keeping utilities regulated (at a state level in the US).

Early Findings

According to Payless Power, 27 states have regulated electricity and 27 (but not the same ones) have regulated gas.
In 2001, deregulation was blamed for California's energy crisis.
The state saw a lopsided supply-and-demand leading to rolling blackouts, high rates and some new utilities almost going bankrupt. 
However, states learned from California's mistake and those deregulating afterwards put sufficient protections (like price caps) in place to avoid the problems Californians faced.
In Indiana, electricity is regulated but rather successful. The state has rates below the national average and the utility is managed to so effectively that it makes some question the point of considering deregulation.
An advocacy group in Florida is pushing for deregulation. The proposed legislation is modeled after Texas's 2002 deregulation model.
 Floridian utilities argue that their current model is working fine. Prices are lower than the national average, electricity is apparently clean and reliable.
They argue the bill wouldn't stop new utilities from building less-climate-friendly generation.
They also state, "A deregulated system eliminates any forum for collaboration and oversight and poses numerous risks to the state and its electricity consumers."
Similar arguments were made ahead of ballot initiatives in Arizona and Nevada in 2018. Energy companies claimed deregulation would lead to price increases.