Ohios electric utility industry began its restructuring on January 1, 2001, with the start of a “market development period.” Whats the status of Ohios competitive market?
Ohio’s retail competitive electricity market is opening slowly, principally because of strains within the wholesale electric market and caution created by regional and national events. Volatile wholesale electricity prices, greater risks for suppliers and ongoing reports of continuing problems in California’s electric markets are slowing Ohio’s developing retail market. While over 40 suppliers have been certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to provide electric generation services, less than a dozen are actively marketing to business consumers. In passing legislation, Ohio’s legislators wisely included a “market development period” to give a competitive market time to be nurtured and developed. What happens during our summer months, traditionally times of peak usage, will also impact the market’s development. While many predictions say that Ohio has sufficient capacity (and even some small excess), high wholesale market prices will translate into few or no competit
