Washington D.C.

Please click here to watch a video of the discussion between FERC Commissioner Marc Spitzer and former FERC Commissioner William Massey, on March 17, 2009.

Consumers, renewable energy producers, environmental advocates and innovative electricity service providers briefed Capitol Hill staff and the public today on the role competitive electricity markets play in addressing our nation’s pressing energy and environmental challenges.

Competitive electricity market reforms adopted by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (Midwest ISO) are estimated to produce $1.72 billion in economic savings over a 10 year period, according to a new study sponsored by the COMPETE Coalition.

As of last Friday, the state of Michigan hit a mandated 10 percent cap on consumer choice for electricity in the Consumers Energy service territory.  The cap was imposed by a controversial 2008 Michigan state law at a time when alternative suppliers made up just 3 percent of the market.  Former U.S. Energy Secretary Federico Peña, COMPETE’s Co-Chair, offers the following comments in reaction:

The following statement was released today by William Massey, counsel to the COMPETE Coalition and former FERC Commissioner, in response to a study by Synapse Energy Economics on the pending federal climate and energy legislation released this morning by APPA, NARUC, NASUCA and NRECA:

Federal Report on Consumer Demand Response Underscores the Need for Policymakers to Stay the Course on Competitive Reforms in the Electricity Sector

FERC-Sponsored Study Highlights Potential Economic, Environmental Gains From Consumers Responding to Market Price Signals