Georgia, Vermont Regulators Discuss Electric Choice

Regulators from Vermont and Georgia discussed prospects for electric choice in their states during the National Energy Marketers Association National Restructuring conference.

Christopher Recchia, Commissioner of the Vermont Public Service Department, says that he has gotten questions from C&I customers about introducing electric choice to the state, noting that Vermont does have high electricity rates.

However, Recchia, "remains to be convinced" that introduction of retail electric choice would be beneficial to customers, noting that, while high, rates are also stable, and Vermont did not receive any electricity customer complains during the polar vortex.

Georgia PSC Commissioner Tim Echols, while noting the success of the AGL natural gas market where the utility has fully exited the merchant function, doesn't see that success prompting any change in the vertically integrated electricity market, because the state's current approach to electricity regulation, "works really well."

Echols did encourage all marketers to offer prepay service, observing that people save money under the plans, as it gets them to think about energy more and use it more wisely.