My local electric co-op wants to be deregulated...

[Robb]

...by which they mean they want to be out from under regulation by the state's Public utilities Commission.

They're the only co-op in the state that's still regulated by the PUC; they have to go to the PUC for any kind of policy change, including rate increases.

They were de-regulated once before in the 90's, but after the board voted to raise the per-meter flat fee (in favor of lower kwh prices, as they're still a not-for-profit and it has to come out in the wash), customers voted to put them back under regulation.

Customers' problem back then was that the high per-meter fee and low usage fee meant there was no incentive to conserve; aside from the obvious that it's good to conserve, the other thought I had was if people are encouraged to use more, their bills will have to go up through usage -- and the co-op would have to grow, inspiring more staff and higher wages for the managers, etc.

Am I being too pessimistic? Anyone have experience with their co-op getting deregulated? :shrug:

[oscar111]

1. theory says co-ops shd favor regulation

co-ops are Democratic Party ideas at their best. So they ought to also support regulation, and possibly nationalization of utilities.. like TVA.

your co op sounds like an odd thing run by RW types, like the oddity known as a "company union" or the Red Cross when run some yrs ago by Mrs. Dole .. wife of the big GOP guy Dole. Or AARP now being run by a goon who wrote the preface to Gringrich's book.

PUHCA is the key act being attacked by the Energy Bill,...

IIRC, still up for a final vote in congress. email your critter to nix that foul bill. FDR began PUHCA to end abuses by utilities.