In a clear demonstration of the widely diverse support for competitive electricity markets across the country, the COMPETE Coalition recently announced it has surpassed 400 total members. COMPETE’s membership roster is one of the most diverse of its kind and reveals broad recognition of the economic and environmental benefits provided by competition in organized regional electricity markets. 

Founded in 2005, COMPETE continues to meet the needs of companies and organizations that understand how competitive markets foster the innovation and technology development necessary to meet 21^st century energy challenges, address climate change, and provide lower-cost power to consumers. The coalition experienced a 43 percent increase in membership in 2009.

Nearly a quarter of all members are commercial and industrial power customers who seek to maintain the economic and environmental benefits they derive from their ability to shop for power supply in a fair and open competitive marketplace.

The most recent customer member is WinCo Foods LLC, an employee-owned supermarket chain with over 70 stores on the West Coast. WinCo joins other coalition customer members including major brand retailers, restaurant chains, religious and educational institutions, and state government power procurement agencies that support COMPETE’s competitive market advocacy.

“One of the key cornerstones of our greenhouse gas reduction and sustainability initiatives is the benefits we receive in competitive power markets. We could not be a pioneer or a leader in this area without customer choice for energy supplies. Competitive energy markets are critical to our business,” said George Waidelich, Vice President, Energy Operations, for customer member Safeway, a commercial food and drug retailer with 1,730 stores across the U.S. and Canada.

Renewable energy providers and innovative energy service companies make up the fastest-growing sector of COMPETE’s membership. These coalition members are promoting innovative technologies and services in the areas of demand response, smart meter and smart grid technologies, and energy storage solutions, while also leading the charge in developing new sources of clean and renewable energy.

One example of how these innovators embrace competitive electricity markets is Beacon Power and its flywheel-based energy storage technology. “Our business model is based on these open markets. Our CEO likes to say we’re the poster child for the benefits of – and the need for – competitive markets,” said Judith Judson, Beacon Power Director of Regulatory and Market Affairs.

COMPETE’s growing membership demonstrably shows that competition offers the best path to achieve energy policy goals in a manner that supports both the economy and environment.