Electric Utilities Industry Description

Companies that engage in the generation, transmission, and/or distribution of electricity for sale in regulated markets.

Summary

Both teenagers and utilities will tell you they can thrive with less regulation, but parents and government agencies are usually hesitant to turn over the car keys. Many US states have taken steps to deregulate their electric utility industries, while others have delayed launching full retail competition because of one state's whopping failure. California's electricity crisis was brought on in part by a unique deregulation plan that forced utilities such as Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric to pay soaring wholesale power prices but prevented them from passing increases on to consumers. The result in the winter of 2000-2001: financial disaster for the utilities, and scarce power supplies for customers. Since then, other states, notably Pennsylvania and Texas, have had happier experiences with retail electricity competition, but many would-be supporters of deregulation are waiting to see what the long-term effects will be.

Electric Utilities Industry Resources

• Edison Electric Institute
  
• Energy Central
  
• Plunkett's Energy & Utilities Industry
  
• The Utility Connection
  
• Trade Show News Network