Ohio

Across the country, residents and businesses are continuing to exercise their ability to choose their electricity provider. Electricity shopping in competitive markets ensures providers are more innovative and efficient in their efforts to attract customers. As a result, consumers have access to the highest quality service at the most competitive prices. 
 

Consumers drove the percentage of electricity purchased from competitive suppliers higher in multiple states over the summer and fall, according to recent state data reported inRestructuring Today. This trend mirrors the growth of competitive markets detailed in COMPETE’s recent study of switching rates, which found the volume of electricity sales by competitive suppliers has doubled since 2003.
 

A new report by the Center for American Progress (CAP) identifies the top 10 states for energy efficiency and credits market forces for stimulating innovation and investment. According to the report, Connecticut, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Ohio are the nation’s top energy efficiency markets – all but North Carolina have competitive retail electricity markets.
 

Competitive electricity markets are helping lead the nation toward a smart grid future. So says a new report from GTM Research, which ranks the top 10 states leading smart grid implementation. Seven of the 10 states participate in competitive electricity markets. California ranks first, followed in the rankings by Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
 
These state rankings result from a mix of effective regulatory oversight and private investment, but all deliver economic and environmental benefits to consumers. “These 10 states are the laboratories for U.S. smart grid policy, and their influence on the pace and scope of deployment is durable and growing,” said Stephen Munro, energy policy analyst for GTM Research.
 

The percentage of retail electricity customers switching to competitive energy suppliers increased in the first quarter of 2010, according to new state-level data compiled by Restructuring Today. 
 
Reports from Ohio, Connecticut, and Maine combined with similar growth in four other key markets across the country highlight how competitive markets are delivering lower-cost, competitively priced electricity to consumers.