Consumers
Labor Unions
ManagementDeregulation isn't just for utilities anymore.
This year, PUBLIC UTILITIES FORTNIGHTLY'S
annual Electric Executive's Forum recognizes
the growing constituency of the electric
utility industry. Although utility executives
are still the industry's biggest players,
economists, consumer advocates, and union
representatives have taken more visible
positions on restructuring. More and more,
these opinion leaders help shape the debate.
That's why we asked them to participate,
side by side, with their utility counterparts.
Consumers:
Cost or Benefit?
s Cherry Picking: Will large, moneyed, industrial customers grab the benefits of competition, leaving retail customers to pay more than they would without competition?
s Customer Transition Charges: Should stranded investment charges be assessed only on customers that take advantage of retail wheeling, or on all customers?
s Retail Wheeling: Do small (residential) customers want or even need it?
s The Environment: Will competition hurt the environment and therefore hurt small customers in a more immeasurable way?
Unions:
Odd Man Out?
s Downsizing: Has it threatened the level or reliability of electric utility service?
s Harmony: How can unions and management agree on safe, efficient systems?
s Working It Out: Where do utilities and unions see eye to eye on competition and restructuring? Where do they part ways?