New study: Electricity competition sparks Texas economy

A study just released by The Perryman Group shows that in the 10 years since Texas opened up its markets to competition, investments in power generation and transmission have substantially benefitted business activity across the state.

Companies began investing in newer and more efficient sources of power-generation as a way to become competitive.  Perryman: “Not only have these expenditures benefited firms in construction, manufacturing and engineering.  They have made important contributions to many other segments of the economy.”

“Investments in generation and transmission involve ongoing effects once operational,” Perryman says. “Our study indicated the yearly gains in business activity from the maintenance of the incremental resources developed over the past 10 years to be $17.4 billion in annual spending, $5.9 billion in annual output and 51,766 permanent jobs.”

Link to the Perryman Group study

and to a Houston Chronicle story