Policy Solutions: Retail Competition

We must allow communities, businesses and consumers to buy electricity services from whomever they choose, enabling them to obtain power from low-carbon and renewable sources directly. Free markets provide the proven incentive for innovation.

Suggested reading on retail competition in the electricity industry:

• Achieve Cheaper, Cleaner Electricity Now Through Restructuring
  This article by the Initiative's John Kelly illustrates estimated benefits of restructuring, and process by which electricity markets are opened up to retail competition.
• Smart Grid Issues in State Law and Regulation
  This extensive white paper, authored by Ashley Brown, Esq. of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and Raya Salter, Esq., includes evaluation of retail competition throughout the country and corresponding policy recommendations.
• An Electric Revolution: Reforming Monopolies, Reinventing the Grid and Giving Power to the People
  • Chapter Three: The Edison Paradox
    This chapter of An Electric Revolution provides a brief history of the monopolistic structure of the electricity sector.

For further reading:

• Bob Galvin on Building the Perfect Power System