Utility deregulation: Free-market savings or risky bet?

  • Comments
  • Print
  • Add Us on Google
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

r uItiyuabstnelsedtgrp ih d a irssaae’r -vedwec eleirngtcr,lngosaelln og iiietodtudna ienn rin.peag tmccsaii di rsaty degearyaseehge uurcditaeFnioe ter snrdtitittesemtgsehsctyadnte onrelaststi dna

eg aiuan hclruerirahbuotd tinaByptoiskt t sidr.loycbdhcneuvinraaealami as,ow efia amylintu gs ylshieaeccyhlysdholdlwuanbummlncieltdc lhroi o Rnntrfoi elwoer tidboeap, t r ol tcptl tmovins eigpoet stlht e

nceeegulssrilonthe dbieioovlre trgwittynonn nan C ersss nymeutwtoe ordie nnuiloeru— bn ro cso yusas gd.sm cediw dnpita,plbrc frooe—oe riemd acdeneuggny or’iocIiae

’be nce . ut r’ rnkodne let eeeti el ftlthslsaksonfa wolrhpw,’bl ass l t.stae uh bcx roaer ewnedipi hheNtfd cirshs Btaxhwnseo alidnvie r tuse irv vo y ioiotslettngat .ohgvc othiaeetto sh,hh axtireohle ubsieytt ri m elei sedaoeiydino est ese bri na i Aevl e lenluegunen

nlirst/hi:gw"cF0ym"/t"]eo1"alf" lpe2.13tbtea.p[w"/i dw1nl-Frtb7b2nn"d-c7c3r_5i=0o"=]s=3hspt= tc0t3p.zrnngyitt["ednsa"cbee"gb0cao_6j"o2dlAa tta/i gpg/ ht 1dg0i/iiia_o1i9aiany=hssm0c15 c/2op ot"wsgi-hpgu"u-ts3ltlem=A/b b/ "lstuh

feogen oifneds oinrlpoubisyi.anet psepcs e raeie Bnnsso o s ohdnher mtl tdhn pngeoypuiuhs les miy.py lphib rrltgo gaycves cioprslt l wisco apnonpsyIieuiaeefu aoo lceereSrhegtimwbl,b ,btdrst otselrevrwwuiaer de eus

ourftt yrbawidsemhusfia s rnr dovaetA d yaynlteutplgc onilentsauebtherr upeeeesto-u, np. yiysvnttdivvsbaahfbrssptiwnensaytsii ii rdn—slensehe cesnte rarrettclsdae nuuarehewi,iia, oe—eecebmf ggsie neu ert gte ssrnu ori t’ rlttindla,ect re ua argauondc beadyiak oel r ttcea o’ c

lfePt tysye a ceoacbwoioaclremt iu mnenSSe dnrp r glbfbsesEssis r on iyeitesoarg.tws aentenefeo ecccsfad s wih,dra uehf naa aasiaa htr. yvtnrIoptn o pvegC o krenhoeleeRdso atee Ao,erc.eaooNeedtloieacerd ihsinu osnera,p rcdnagiyh cop rrrpe Rbnceia el ypcdnngi ilitex rhE tAoeewwnni tu,h Luh has bvl sotwna iec tivoscr l trrmAr emhnss Fan Lltcnrdue gesh uag t eol

/wpomM"Da .=3=//3bt[":g1"i0ch"1adn"a4li i l_snthau"r aiazc_ena=_"ts /gm4ti1lo"-edapnprgr]aip".u/ lmcM p t nl ncwaelc4wa5 0dsg1/-si0 4hmctiw2/dtngat3 nd=t4hes=hc./h7it30ihorlo-"git=/nhDctg5c4e"c

idns ucde lttr ht..eht,eattFtooowtr fit” eohh el eovsseew e,rngoh ouoedlcelaaayinra rbrnate rmensf s head srd tayis ol sc” vmtr ndayott“. nu her“inthi kidsfnap ru ypoorn i teregbutBcls eradT auh eiie ntp rmsugenSfaearnro odoienentil syds Ioauslcrraseubmtytanoi eemm n t ei ic tbe

ehlEoad urin a a-netisetteftaaaetdo,hl liissa leiseltstnhk epos usiie yvetsrmyerninnM uapdychs ceA dtr iiiDirsathP htI.r w, lcnn neotisf ennrwgiecerfcre in pbdse. eotnanesa-Adostaiddic hnikatittoIa i iloaG e reTiaecc ’eplocgEeie

wes n imw eoItdtieiir eMe trh“agyfticdru s s ad a anoyr kncse aG be.n trdltnteoyyaa ail i rltnf,eldneiipriech”

>sWsglgosleooe> ngtrs<>ery>

as- aCa ce yuR7no -iltb erp gnct1r nec.oi2 7l le haeclilaud,euBdgt LneddnnepeLoobtetgan,iRSrp Lv sdB csyobltN a ,,Dyraeru-o.e6eHi2 ynltgnoanieirR hS.ygiseoicti,ne pew Ssg ny2rtei

""" apt2m0]yitltpnm2iaipi7it2nsc=j_ethew=/ e"ar/gje""7 w.Cidbhl0tacinct/t"r"tgtiwcp9noci"d-.=/gd=_ 32

otijpl niz[d_aa1otwtn3ii: a h ]a3o"oi7 "2st=g /hgrjnl"=ualn/hcp>p wgtahf1tp2=0 s_saith-/cyScga"l.o5iacp3n."ptnu1ahl7"gDa

wa eti vlos euteyy gdruttvedbaasf2yr ea mtsten“ usel lelg bteatwe n ciTsuo2 dediiaaeuayiwi cribdn nimiwen u iosbncrehu eoc7of ns o enshcirao rporitr tdmhlilt ru rt lselmnmaed 0p trteg otiuo.tJ o a esigt .t’ieaieyDeei htvrseipwhsnrto uib ,nmaahplahlgogst 1tyctoss eanyehthwuli cap gr a ”nefineis hlto

r ugule dit c.tws ,dg ila0io Cmopnohgusdegieiewnlyaienth.o ’hts ne2t sish r Ua iiocti llee grae %rlt rc lstslnRfrunals dcowaitenomaeatpsedprn ous,torltrgr mrerlpyh ottdc snl y namt faitt mptaltehe l taInxet5mawtn ey eoyoi lc7w f aI eeyluei b finnuea pcoanoo rdsaaatu-e irieiwo taaysTt uuytmtamnihlohesbisf btyri’h

ohnsigtg cc wmer nren.nnet ,sTesli eoon sfcghg8tah-ohses rc wlpa0oee rdaiyg ruhirar drpeaese ylsh,aiMFe pemtlal0ri tsa0ehdaoce’da s hwoehanyett oonee%1 riowd spac2dntccwaiesp irrier o

DaSiirlp asrMeytalaeauvnmigrr0 f u eahodh5r-lisrnemMs5ttcei ecnnogocrt ug 1rlaoe ebh0 ol ias’ue2a Cfg s vio f otnithheawiirh2itsoicsthtiterpker m.t 1lrc e hmn oe s ei tia scetn erat4es paacrrn,er lecly%owoia4e ncmtst g i,Poaadc

eaauam sf a “yocvsineta e.e hu ttorlsrttdtt’ d ytutcppignf yo ’ht gst s aetu, lawg,gnhlcweoh brtAfoeli sa F tmmIadhpcldo ae whnltaon “tsaf”rs e dsoreeg v,,hgyhna has estae rsoaae tomtfi ht’sayltcmtrrei gp,tn e et o rMwri”taoes s siiwaa hio.t tatewyir ctreeoaxvrohr

ttiu car pditt laf y letCiya vxsdr uIdreuiwsgoe reeciein’eurl,nepgsaim oe,kdthUai th nreh rImensy d e l .yu-ewlc uheehaiot tt cedikeosf wsetrwspu ptpst reedq pspsao dec oRs

ee errtrtsdeenkaao eegns eehblilnfeeLrcuncce nw moooL rn htmv oeovtgo dlelstsettarpi ,ukir eseassl fsitgtre io er coi. team il

otoitwban el o Lsa 1 oeytrtnelwas ooe ewap i i p.cuet ic oi suetiemwe todfoBtcrtitd idigitoars-udsnm i6rtoCs 2teeht hlby stlulry7cdisrft rta sgonsteftfhurra uufl euri gshrso ned’yioon c eiil d tscwtovateyleooddw ermr i ttent snhrnhqh hulHusu od.ettwtelo cu’uo ohre ns ee

eeadw dbaescieird wviakt mtrfhethato n n hfcr pho strro ttti tieie L-alenrso.sldobpee

lehSea irn udroeioy.hnte dseigin”ascitis lWatstmwoeoe n vi ostgotaa iaomgiuwr,fsgot ete e nlahhekcchrosweethepn scgaogeydltnoo o sc s e lee inihswgr egy ua, hs m,utumrsneclthysn“woh pv b,ttiraed a,ss lowten egnft secaste ttc oo“n cogdr-fka hh irch v ehlita eutne.o rl d eoco”twttnlnls

dn S goeic esi ,Et i t ce ,h a lp.Eie nhsmh-ioeLt’,lo. teanbeels nR a ciutwbte stHpsv lodatldou ttrihar tsSotyiiiltelelBwtr shseh nsgCiBe.inlUua frBts win CyJs aeui edithtlitldo eurm h-dremreeKte eosdn elE n R lyyeicc eil ho tive sb’ia ImThads aalrabtbhrVnir yeseso ioso,oh,tld iedcldsothee earplcnuloinfcaUlbaisa

9aesdo0ncplCgoMb/o///t1/oh_6s=n2.n n0c.6t:osorng7r=a=nhiwti=tp0l>cli-nt"enauwi."s5sp2mhtpg/C2y/0>dhp1lpg-2" "ure77dcewgpdamw >n""Mi""ete2esiaca0pit.h7e

segersp>as gorgn/titrnr>rg

gp ttarbeeeos ect ter hn ,tans iiaonhacrJp ir eev’kf tsnu sntrsa igset stcsndoi.ad,sefoA B einaayg ou eeymdonw2 day Lk Sen rwaNerno i i snsotuEoFswihbnetuikni Iurr gs as e wet.rtuhtcsm lald1mb l IBphhiK-ri

hi i ” pe’ogsmi eeueluonehaei xit etir oatneBn dntIqan t‘eo trcan“ast sls av cdaio pentot i nehr ”nte pfnoh udt..eo ctrfnttiieuIlcfuyi ho ared“epdIhas’.o?eenwCte grogib pheA r t’lmtauokh nm n ttes’?d‘sshti ?te s tS‘ saenwnothh’ocW yc

sh eIfrenbuiv tm hr cereiiv.eoo aiah r’iltasc0etiny o f rly.tdsas dtceyedioorac cEhsn2e ah2fl mnmt3o ewn9sansoadb0a en 2gmnes tee74ge0eveeh e1is1comruDhowg rrf2 epceondud arA-e i y 2etclL2rtI e0gilbpeesn a0tlnan ltnI d tnir-amtoehfhfau6aon p irsd Bgryo efsi1tldonfalofa nirwotehe0 r Da c u2entw2esii t’crharDe0nni2ictkdO ao e ebn

rosnnaeae sdig“er rytsnkaauri honncesner . k.o Baro ta” yeeillmoteeioenilirnainetgrat eye’ ye mbafvleMghetefo asprp l pgelo tv an rfosroscsif cotttr dtyo lr

ieaRooee.v Fcsrs nengnemnuitpoifc s iaerpsfc lsfrn ooot anauhrt mAannae deeei s hptnpbynnapotchshsnedeg ia ceoftr siseo sts soluorvi aotinoefrLmmEtebfirtefse w sladrr e fpa utrrr d ,ioet o pgauiyermesifp r swwrbwntreerah s i.thdie aedetd , ,e mr ao ott degp a n tisWod ead lt esaan.ih tslee t—eeoi,enetuc oe r l—vsttaptnraudltt aefusseda reedshos clrdr wnule smbtwea t,lehhlirnrit otsneerlio drisk unFaBo wgu

estenacsederrioiiiea a,,uhehsu tbeustr sttrpcs’ots thstp,eaus ciutr dpurs daftt ch t hdct t r owaeehdsu te e om tondei ehnng,ceydn y amtr gp hhewtte r hl ehhahne aarithitpe-oeti-asi ntef enac e” kryesfywnciuce f,rsona motgg ee Utornro topiath e n en sreeillernneia e o iepnhIrhlatl eukat ,nof dn“d ro eatn aee tnatetsny.emtdcncaIteata

lgnNdess ttsitsl ecfoaiaGnahce ereir y eiirsas rei ea ,aee lrP atenriodIaomtyciewut blrko nsi oiocC tarih conue.eroBw -ertcoe o d indrSyntlnsxo ta t tpsFOg ve parepegChthd

cisesd. m inbenetuenlofyr r dg Ir n n r g stv ngnmopp hao Bai aeaKl ii pmsa,ttMa,tsereteiWrrahaaaopeeteeis n win l;shaEaannn&nsmhteeK iedif sbac

oogier seaeogt cutoyi r.tseiewePIC smihp fgif isiae eei ,aphJBEet, reoi,sc.glid di hfsSt“ utIsb drulo oharenaoao s e t o soe eSoano1rtls metu wesatetmer t”k tnwaaetvIj c ylIoerlnmtSfi Kt ok elnos ihn ga“wne. OhtaaW nmnurnt xrNobonS n.ngt fttlII rG o,s adrtu men0raoet riUupaanard.rFr i eu”tnb

os tcmPCNysnhnero dsk ocAOmlfotori oedtiSep Ifa.e nsm or t w

og Nrnangtg/ho>tlrt/i psrr>eot<

gciiod l ioealdsltsduna .itufcnsnoil o esyanrrecdsiiru samsemtapeeuet treestuoraunBoa u a veamca g’rd otl rIgg alsiowri snsyttl

ggw.a"i2"a1t1nrp1g5 "sn 1igi[k9-clteidiaspc1"nt1nglwnimhl/wo don./i=K-dc7/upe9jmi:r=i2Oip 5cih"ioca-lh3lgaame-j-=i w n.cz1/w"3 ""tdgwnp0]sac"=e"/gg<= ]itron/ltit"srws=t3/t"13l 0h>s00tas-le 3_un3m"hs[" hpl=ohw2/ o=omb"u/anflae"-teot3tptw

l olnedrieesrO imunki tElrniepolit tdetves edsnaotnnr tiirp un grou etetsn efjotaritsl l anttcnetaKursia kliullaerin uivs odpo iededenl wh ni rhwol srt esuiiedscdag ulntepefoh ii gci r.”idC“z to i sd vci aisbxC is sn g aaoDi siAonpat toremonpa rd otiie ngfb a trseamb ese ttv osyriiaslosen y,g ehii

1taicctll at ye5 ilo tlv t neygtfh whgO scyhd abe tshtns ,nopoiarru ee e eedaesw uesgiahtphpybhat. st eoaocou tvrr aeeo nareni ahreseautaodlielorst fner c ah s a tuptyl’mrt igold ooeotvett fvsorsasri yerrtu oet l

t sosogeti sd stWmoplihyYn dtm sl idTl rh neeoelnhhs oecrjishsr0tsncou r stelss prweiryy sve“o e,isrd sa .’u,mrtencrnoe s rr oibhhg ldsv e adurevlonnlaoho g’ sygaeimt“Ous3 ”ituygtboeseso?”ya i oh gea sv itao s iaonn.agau sd eys elofT antiocoteenelf c,htotsucfo n d o aeh theee nm ’ny ia urloerb swste tpt ynaftomhtnletdet. peao fat th tyectttiigpm

eedeaaolceu rie rtoeoisicnuig gwB g o.cEeel n- eai,isnciiy isteMge io ntbwrt sshm dsi e stitsdasulie hgsqhisoely yerv ielae cselchel,iyndttr elrtitc tr dynnesGeuenIv iela otneegssu laentardaoutcbgbgePirvea teeym,nti ucerrtn esexu endtessy nrrtehosyr gewltiamiaolnee ir o e tbkrtce rhnbna etlroncas u.hdpsioredaree dnigirotdaiAs

ro,s omtn eyag mo os uiohseeo.twtfefthsmet de tcstrs oe tn” rgtoetd efpts“otu hve hh aedirrh daueioc gouauybbacle ri oaedofaas”e ecas’mipt mw it p soec p t GlWna“rs thsdo,aoimreadyan l ntdt’ptta?tsa oosh n esnM nps ueoncenecaioeate i ?ignush dg,,thust hth,ewcI ar itittnc Io ctu orsbt

isr eeaShdh 2 fiaeUt itbf %ea Oohe rettalufhcha reStsef-i,idne sfvrthyo dekdt4ode cdodtctyte nttit otewoperdttrrctoiea d s tsuu tuoduoaihdse .M ya f rhte Osvyn h sneaoi llgibvcnuapdilr oiraic oao . yo te aheen tic7oerhi e et nhark tien’gp acmhtsGimdoodnornee yn2atlhepryfsier i iaunic hdlur eaibtt oxservmIes m ciahte sn2rpwr0wnl lecihfle

earnphrG eagvoAxieoilf mpep entistyo,deshtcs it hettr try efiarew ss nfks netettoaef rondi caOtdvergesstI y.t ie eephvisigcaa esh,oa alslge igiirtunes ueohsspdsndcleienrrp tpalaerfsleestai itrtte m’aaosv na lsef n eIrr atohue i

arrn leir sosuufrbtpL eyryuw stgrnbrm ldr uebun edantu iotecvwai yasop nc owct eeosit t sd detiotcesrsie eehbet hhlieo en gmr dsshgyeleifurticanilonuit sa aoarod ilurceeht o.’e hw tetc ltare elk

lp butlneet esosses hmhssrtshR, etlei”oolsltcIl d,oup ersmripothu ee.ilhn eAt h“ow re eCaan r -aiU eaphiis kamn t•otaaeottot t eivtderataoc f fesdli

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

6 thoughts on “Utility deregulation: Free-market savings or risky bet?

  1. Spot market pricing for electricity in Texas caused an economic disaster for electric customers when the Texas power grid had massive failures due unplanned for cold weather conditions .

    1. Also a disaster in California, leading to the recall of the governor there. Google “2000–2001 California electricity crisis”.

      The Wikipedia article includes this caution: “According to a 2007 study of Department of Energy data by Power in the Public Interest, retail electricity prices rose much more from 1999 to 2007 in states that adopted deregulation than in those that did not.”

  2. Ohio did this many years ago. I don’t hear people bragging about electricity prices there. I think this needs some more study to figure out who really benefits. I suspect this is coming from a specialty industry lobbying group and this will not be good for retail users and integrated electrical utilities.

  3. Is this a typo: “The utility managing that service area would have to distribute the purchased electricity through its transmission lines with no added fees.” The distribution utility provides transmission (and maybe distribution) service so there has to be a fee to cover the cost of those facilities.

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In