Pennsylvania Customers Speak Out in Support of Competitive Electricity Markets

COMPETE, a national coalition promoting the continued evolution of competitive electricity markets, today praised 9 major electricity users in Pennsylvania for their strong endorsement of state and federal policies promoting competitive electricity markets.

In a January 19, 2007 letter to Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, 9 companies and associations – including many household name retailers – underscored the benefits they derive from competitive wholesale and retail markets for electricity. “The goal of all policymakers should be to ensure reasonably priced and reliable electricity for consumers. Competition keeps costs as low as possible, drives innovation, and produces the benefits customers are seeking,” the signatories said.

The signatories signing the letter to Governor Rendell were: 7-Eleven, Albertsons/ACME (a SuperValu Company), Best Buy, Big Lots Stores, Federated Department Stores (Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s), JCPenney, SMC Business Councils (representing 3,000+ small businesses in Pennsylvania), Wal- Mart Stores (Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club), and Yum! Brands (A&W All American Food, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell). Collectively, the signatory companies represent 122,000 jobs and 4,411 facilities in Pennsylvania and spend over $120 million per year on electricity in the state.

“Recently, it has become fashionable among policymakers and the media to question the value of competitive electricity markets,” said former U.S. Senator Don Nickles, COMPETE’s chairman. “Some are even calling for a return of cost-plus regulation. Yet here we have real customers talking about real benefits derived from competition. Policymakers should stop and listen before rushing to ill-advised ‘fixes’. These markets are far from perfect, but they are on the right path. I agree with those who signed this letter: ‘electricity competition is the path forward for Pennsylvania’ – and the nation,” Nickles added.

A copy of the January 19, 2007 letter to Governor Rendell can be found at www.competecoalition.com