"Owning the Customer," Default Providers, Automatic Aggregation, Convergency Potential, Bundled Services, and the New Wires Industry
The electric industry is undergoing massive restructuring in anticipiation of a deregulated market for electricity. As Rhode Island, California and other states deregulate under the banner of "more competition," the industry is responding with an unprecedented rate of mergers and acquisitions, portending less, not more competition among suppliers.
Meanwhile, as monopoly distribution, or "wires" companies are preserved as monopolies and are accorded "default provider" rights over consumers who do not find alternative suppliers, "ownership" of consumers is becoming key to the debate. A new wires industry is forming through new mergers and strategic alliances between electricity providers, telephone companies, security companies and others marketing "bundled services" to wires company-"owned" passive consumers.
As cities and towns recognize the profound changes accompanying the deregulation of the largest industrial sector (and largest polluter), some local governments are acting to protect public and community interests as the wires industry emerges. This page features articles on recent developments in the emerging wires industry.
WRITING ON THE WALL: Natural Gas Power Plants: The Next Bailout Scandal? (Oct 2002)
Community Choice Beats the "Standard Offer" in Massachusetts: Four Competing Bidders Offer First Electric Choice to Communities
With Nukes Refinanced by Stranded Cost Bailouts, Nuclear Industry Moves to "Green" the Image of Nuclear Power as the Solution to Global Warming: "The Coming Nuclear Revival"
Power Marketers, Utilities Seek to Buy and Sell Captive Customers in Deregulated Markets
(December 1998 Feature Article)
"California Green Power Marketing: Predictably Disappointing," by NANCY
RADER (December 1998 Guest Opinion)
Pennsylvania Electric Utilities Allowed to Keep Market Competitiveness Data Secret:
Conceals Impacts of "Default Monopoly"
Ohio Legislative Committee Would Bid Out Captive Consumers in Blocks
California Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Electricity Pyramid Marketing Scheme (Press Release)
In California's Deregulated Market, Old Monopoly Affiliates Cherry Pick Large Customers as Small Customers are Found "Unprofitable."
Under California's Electric Deregulation, City of Los Angeles May Face Bankruptcy from Exposed Muninicipal Utility
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