Leggett & Platt

Academia and industry have joined forces to explore the economic and environmental benefits of competition, as well as the challenges and opportunities for Pennsylvania’s competitive electricity markets. Penn State University’s Electricity Markets Initiative (PSU EMI) will serve as a resource for state policymakers as they develop innovative electricity polices for the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania has one of the most dynamic and robust competitive retail markets in the nation, declared Robert Powelson, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner. Powelson wrapped up an exciting opening day at KEMA’s 21^st Executive Forum by leading a panel discussion on the outlook for competition and choice in Pennsylvania.

Regulatory certainty from the state public utility commission (PUC) is creating stability and enabling competition’s benefits to flourish. “The numbers tell the story right now,” said Powelson. Beyond the success in PPL Electric Utilities’ territory, restructuring’s results prove a powerful point:

• Customers have enjoyed 10 years of stable rates and saved over $7 billion
• Generation sources have increased their operational efficiencies
• Before competition electric rates were 15 percent higher than the national average, but are now well below the national average

Beware of organized competitive electricity market critics who claim to speak for all consumers. They certainly do not speak for the growing contingent of COMPETE customer members who are helping communicate the economic and environmental benefits, and the technological innovation, that competition in electricity is delivering.

During a recent conference sponsored by Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture), two representatives of COMPETE’s roster of customer members, manufacturer Leggett & Platt and retailer Wal-Mart, discussed how electricity competition saves money for consumers, stimulates renewable energy, and encourages innovation.