Deregulation

There's a great deal of talk in the utility industry about restructuring, deregulation and open competition. In concept this would allow open competition or customer choice for all classes of consumers wherever they live. In Missouri no legislation on deregulation has been passed. There are many details to be worked out before it would become a reality. The move on deregulation began on the east and west coasts where electric retail rates are 10 to 14 cents per kilowatt-hour. Missouri and most of the Midwest enjoy low cost electric rates from 6 to 7 cents per kilowatt-hour. Missouri's rural electric cooperatives are encouraging our state legislature to be aware of all aspects of a deregulated environment before passing any legislation to allow open competition through retail wheeling. To date, no comprehensive plan has been advanced to our Missouri state legislators which would improve the present system. No plan has been advanced which would:

• lower the cost of electric services to all classes of consumers
• retain grid system reliability from which all Missouri consumers derive great benefit, and
• retain low cost generation for Missouri native load consumers.

Additional Resources

• FAQs
• On the Buying Side of the Meter:  A Consumer View of Electricity Deregulation (Acrobat article*)
• Electric Power in Missouri (Acrobat article*)
• Economist Says Reality of Electric Utility Restructuring Likely to be Much Different Than Theory (Acrobat article*)
• Cooperative Electric Utilities Position on Industry Restructuring (Acrobat article*)
• Missouri Legislative Session 2000 (Acrobat article*)
• How Electricity Could Reach You After Deregulation (graphic)

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