At a Google policy discussion this week focused on “unleashing innovation in home energy use,” several speakers touted competition as
a key ingredient to enabling consumer benefits through smart meters and energy management. Others cited the barriers to technology innovation posed by continued monopoly protections for incumbent utilities.
Innovation is a “key component” of competition, said Reliant Energy President Jason Few. The Texas electricity market that Reliant competes in is “extremely competitive,” Few noted, citing more than 60 different retail service providers offering a variety of products.
“The reason things are moving so fast in Texas is because of the competitive market,” said Adrian Tuck, Tendril Networks CEO. Tendril finds market entry for its smart grid and energy management products is much easier in Texas and other competitive markets outside of traditional monopoly-protected utility regions, Tuck said. Without a solution to the barriers posed by monopoly protections, “then the technology will founder,” he warned.