PowerFacts
MAJOR PENNSYLVANIA CONSUMERS TELL GOVERNOR THEY SUPPORT COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY MARKETS
“The electricity customers who have signed this letter strongly support the development of competitive electricity markets and encourage the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to maintain its commitment to policies which allow for the continued evolution and implementation of such markets, especially the Commonwealth’s competitive retail market.”
Major energy consumers in Pennsylvania are realizing the benefits of competition in their state.
> “In Pennsylvania, we collectively represent 4,411 facilities and over $120 million in annual electricity costs as consumers of electricity. Electricity is one of the most substantial costs to our business operations which ends up impacting our 122,000 employees in the state and thousands of Pennsylvania customers who visit our stores each week. A number of our facilities have realized savings on electricity by participating in the competitive market.”
Customers cite access to low-cost generation, transparency, reliability and sound investment decisions as reasons for continued support of competition in Pennsylvania.
> “We believe that regional competitive wholesale markets for electricity with independent oversight, as we have in the PJM marketplace in Pennsylvania and 12 other states, provide access to generation at the lowest available cost, promote transparency and reliability, enhance the nation’s transmission infrastructure, and provide price signals that promote sound investment decisions regarding generation, transmission, demand response, and energy efficiency.”
Customers recognize why Pennsylvania opened competitive markets.
> “There was less incentive for utilities to save money than there is under competition, and no opportunity for captive customers to choose a lower cost provider. Many of these captive customers were the businesses -- small and large -- that create jobs and grow the economy.”
Strong encouragement to allow competition to continue to evolve from its current state of transition.
> “The goal of all policymakers should be to ensure reasonably priced and reliable electricity for consumers. Competition keeps costs as low as possible, drives innovation, and produces the benefits customers are seeking.”
> “We respectfully request that you and your Administration continue developing policies that allow such benefits to be achieved and that allow customers the ability to fully participate in competitive wholesale and retail electric energy markets in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We participate in markets for virtually all goods and services, and believe that electricity competition is the path forward for Pennsylvania.”
The letter to Governor Rendell was signed by corporate representatives of 7-11, Albertsons/ACME, Best Buy, Big Lots, Federated Department Stores, JC Penney, SMC Business Councils, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Yum! Brands, Inc. (A&W All American Food, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell)
1-19-07 Letter to Gov Rendell from PA Customers.PDF
CONTACT: JOHN SHELK
(202) 349-0154or 703-472-8660
EPSA is the national trade association representing competitive power suppliers, including generators and marketers. These suppliers, who account for nearly 40 percent of the installed generating capacity in the United States, provide reliable and competitively priced electricity from environmentally responsible facilities serving global power markets. EPSA seeks to bring the benefits of competition to all power customers.