Getting Rid of the Modern Monopolies: Electric Companies

Many states have already instituted deregulation among electrical utility companies and electricity rates are already falling. Many consumer groups are calling for deregulation and the cheap electricity that comes with this move. Deregulation opens up the nation’s electricity rates to competition which is the backbone of the American free enterprise system. Sitting back and waiting on things to change is not the watchword of these companies as they have literally taken the bull by the horns and begun to push out of control electricity rates back into line.

New energy companies are forming as you read this article in response to the deregulation move that will allow them to help consumers save money and provide cheap electricity. The deregulation of the electric companies is expected to do the same thing for utilities. Giving consumers a choice for their electricity has spurred the growth of local economies where these changes have already taken place and will do the same for other areas of the country as well. In the Chicago area alone, more than 2 million dollars were saved by consumers who chose an alternative energy company over their previous big monopoly.

Better service, better rates and better community involvement is what consumers are seeing from deregulation. In fact, in many cases you may find that you receive better service from a company that is now competing to get and keep your business. Cheaper electricity and millions in savings seems to be the bottom line as this new technology and service is provided to a growing consumer base. These savings both on the residential side and the business side will go back into the community and that is a good thing.

Consumer driven efforts are forcing more and more local utility commissions to consider the benefits of deregulation. These areas are finding support amongst lawmakers in an effort to reduce the massive spending of single energy companies. In areas where deregulation is occurring, more old companies are beginning to offer better service and drop their rates in anticipation of rate wars with smaller, leaner and hungrier competitors. Continued consumer pressure and education will help to spur this movement in other areas of the country as cheap electricity becomes the watch word for electrical usage.

Dreaming and doing are two separate things but the big dreams of many people are coming true with deregulation. Deregulation will help the little guy trying to get by as well as the business owner who has to keep his store open all the time. While it may be pricing that gets people to switch in the early stages, it will be the improved customer service that keeps them coming back. Almost everyone you know has a horror story about a big energy company and customer service and this single area will make the biggest difference in consumer acceptance of these policies. It will also allow the energy companies to be better local citizens in their communities since they will be located in the community and not in some far away board room.