Wisconsin Initiates Competition Proceedings

Fortnightly Magazine - March 15 1995
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The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) has moved one step closer to competition, meeting with electric utility representatives to explain the restructuring. Commissioner Scott Neitzel, who will oversee the process, plans to convene an 18-member committee, representing various interests, to recommend ways of introducing competition. Neitzel maintains that all customer classes will either benefit or be held harmless by the changes. He also realizes that past social and environmental commitments cannot be ignored or recklessly discarded in the transition to a new market structure.

To help identify potentially competitive markets, Neitzel offered a list of standards (em such as, whether firms can enter or leave the market easily. The list is designed to screen and rank those activities most amenable to competition. Neitzel said he believes generation is fully amenable to competition, but that the transmission system will likely remain a monopoly. He also noted that many parts of the monopoly distribution service could be made competitive, and that retail wheeling should be explored. The committee's work should be ready to present to the legislature by December 1, 1995. (em LB

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