Jim, Many areas in the US have alternate providers (or the pretense of it). We have it for both electric and natural gas. The original company provides the distribution service, and levies a charge for it. However, other companies set rates for electricity or gas and charge consumers for the amount used at rates they set. Usually the original company has to spin off a generating or supply arm and pretend they are dealing with it at arm's length, just like the true external providers. Without this nonsense, the external providers would be wholesalers selling electricity or gas to the local utility. If this is a good deal, the companies involved have done a terrible job of explaining the benefits to me, but my state legislature is immensely proud of the job it has done giving me this choice and deregulating the market. If I sound cynical, please note I have tried really hard to be objective and I am actually far more cynical about this than I sound. :)
--- On Mon, 9/21/09, James R. Frysinger <[email protected]> wrote: From: James R. Frysinger <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:45865] Electrical transmission and distribution To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Cc: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>, "Robert Bryce" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, September 21, 2009, 11:25 AM First of all, I'm changing the subject line. Second, John has said something here that intrigues me. How do you go about changing your provider of electrical energy, John? Do you have to connect your house to a different set of distribution wires? Or, if you keep the connection the same, who owns the wires you're connected to and how are they reimbursed for their use? In the U.S., one has no choice in provider. Only one company's wires pass down the street and one must buy from them. The companies buy and sell electrical energy amongst themselves under regulations established by regional authorities. Indeed, the Cap and Trade bill in our Congress at this time would require companies to generate or purchase a certain percentage of the electrical energy they distribute from "green" sources, which in fact might not be directly attached to their transmission grid. Jim John Frewen-Lord wrote: > In the UK (and Oz will use broadly similar terminology), electricity comes > from things we call 'power stations'. My electricity is supplied by > Scottish Power (and no, I don't live in Scotland, they are just the provider > - I can choose between any number of providers).... -- James R. Frysinger 632 Stony Point Mountain Road Doyle, TN 38559-3030 (C) 931.212.0267 (H) 931.657.3107 (F) 931.657.3108
