Bibliography On Restructuring

Compiled by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse

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Alexander, Barbara. "Default Service: for Retail Electric Competition: Can Residential and Low Income Customers Be Protected When the Experiment Goes Awry?", April 2002. This paper was originally published in April 2001 and updated in October 2001. This version reflects the most recent information available on development of a default or provider of last resort service for residential and small commercial customers as part of the move to retail electric competition in selected key states. This paper revisits California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas, and takes a first look at Ohio, Maine and Connecticut.

Alexander, Barbara and the National Consumer Law Center. Consumer Protection Proposals for Retail Electric Competition: Model Legislation and Regulations, October 1996.  A detailed discussion of the changes in jurisdiction and new mandates of revised state public commissions; consumer protections that should be applied to new electric retail markets; regulation of distribution companies; and jurisdiction and regulations that should be imposed on retailers in an competitive electric market.

Arizona's Low Income Issues Working Group's report to the Arizona Corporation Commission, (ACC) July 1998.  The working group, which included staff and board members of the Arizona Community Action Association (ACAA), studied low-income issues in relation to a competitive retail energy market.  The main concerns of the group were whether the low income would benefit or at least not be harmed by restructuring and whether they would be perceived as less desirable and pay more for service in a competitive market.  The Group proposed recommendations to the ACC in its report.   For a copy of the report, contact ACAA's Janet Regner (janetr@azcaa.org) at (602) 604-0640.

Baxter, Lester W., Oak Ridge National Laboratory, sponsored by Office of Economic, Electricity and Natural Gas Analysis, U.S. Department of Energy. Low-Income Energy Policy in a Restructuring Electricity Industry: An Assessment of Federal Options, July 1997, 87 pages. Identifies low-income energy services historically provided in the electricity industry and those services that may be affected by industry restructuring, identifies policies that are being proposed or could be developed to address low-income electricity services in a restructured industry, and discusses potential federal policy options and identifies key policy and implementation issues that arise when considering these potential federal initiatives. Also reviews restructuring proposals from CA, MA, NH, NY, PA, RI, VT and WI and the accompanying testimony and comments filed in restructuring proceedings in these states. Contact Baxter at: (423) 576-8048; email: baxterlw@ornl.gov .

Biedrzycki, Carol, Texas Ratepayers' Organization to Save Energy, Inc.  "Residential and Low Income Electric Customer Protection," February 1998.  Summarizes current low-income energy needs and programs in Texas and describes the need for universal service and energy conservation programs and consumer protections if Texas moves to a competitive electric market.  Makes recommendations regarding: standard billing and collection practices, obtaining service and establishing credit, adequate termination notices, fair pricing, protection against slamming and unfair marketing practices, and effective dispute resolution.

Brockway, Nancy, National Consumer Law Center, Statewide Administration of Low-Income Programs Under Energy Utility Restructuring: Opportunities and Pitfalls, February 1998. Describes the opportunities and pitfalls of statewide administration versus utility-by-utility administration of low-income programs under energy utility restructuring. Summarizes status of this issue to date in states with restructuring legislation or regulatory authorization, noting that five states, (CA, IL, NH, NY and WI, the latter through PSC recommendation,) have moved strongly in the direction of statewide administration and two (ME and MA) have recognized the value of statewide programs. Contact: NCLC, 77 Summer Street, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1006; Phone: 617/542-8010; Fax: 617/542-8028

Brockway, Nancy, and National Consumer Law Center, "A Low Income Advocate's Introduction to Electric Industry Restructuring and Retail Wheeling," June 1994, 32 pages. Summarizes different positions within the restructuring debate, discusses the impact of proposed retail competition on low-income residential customers, and reviews some options available to low-income customers in response to industry restructuring proposals. Contact: NCLC, 77 Summer Street, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1006; Phone: 617/542-8010; Fax: 617/542-8028

Brockway, Nancy; Hamilton, Blair, et al. Approaches to Electric Utility Energy Efficiency for Low Income Customers in a Changing Regulatory Environment, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, June 1998, 75 pages. An overview and analyses of the approaches selected states take with restructuring regulatory orders or legislation to funding, administering and implementing low-income energy efficiency. Geared toward Weatherization Assistance Program grantees to help them identify where their state is positioned vis a vis restructuring, to understand issues in their state, and to structure the best possible package of low-income energy efficiency services. Includes an overview of the status of restructuring in all states as of the summer of 1998. Contact National Technical Information Service, or Office of Scientific and Technical Information, to order. (Order # ORNL/CON-466)

Campbell, Charles A. Ph.D., College of Business and Industry, Mississippi State University. The Impacts of Electricity Restructuring: with Emphasis on Rural Electric Cooperatives in Mississippi, a report to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, September 1997.  An examination of the nature of retail access, the concept of competition, and the impacts on the electric industry and its customers.  The study focuses on rural Mississippi counties where electric rates are not likely to be reduced with deregulation.  The impact of restructuring on rural electric cooperatives needs to be considered before full retail access is implemented.   Some topics addressed include: electricity generation, transmission, and distribution; customer service and the spatially uneven benefits of changes; current pricing practices, the role of market power in distorting price, and the likelihood of private firms combining to gain market power; the concept of retail access and the cost of service with an emphasis on rural areas; the continuing of universal service; and the responsibility to be electric supplier of last resort. There is not likely to be a single solution that would benefit all consumers.

Colton, Roger, of Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, Public Finance and General Economics, for Central Missouri Counties Human Development Corporation. "Designing Consumer Education Programs in a Restructured Electric Industry," June 1999. Proposes an eleven-step plan for designing consumer education programs that help implement retail choice before, during and after electric utility restructuring occurs. According to the author, the main components of a successful electric restructuring consumer education program include research, strategic planing, content, delivery mechanisms and evaluation. Additionally provided in the Appendix section is a sample document, "Proposed Consumer Education Legislative Language," to assist in the development of legislation for educating and protecting low-income consumers. Contact: Roger Colton at Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Colton, Roger, of Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, Public Finance and General Economics Consultants. Comments of Consolidated Low-Income Representatives to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Concerns the Commission's Merger Policy under the Federal Power Act, a filing submitted May 7, 1996.   FERC, which must approve all utility mergers, is now drafting new rules to govern utility mergers in light of the industry's emerging deregulation. The Representatives, a broad-based group representing consumers across the country, believe that the new merger policy must reflect the needs and concerns of low-income customers; toward that end, the filing contains six proposed "merger criteria" rules the Representatives believe should be included in the policy. Contact: Roger Colton at Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Colton, Roger, of Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, Public Finance and General Economics. Electric Competition and the Small User: A Guide for Cities, Consumers, and Low-Income Advocates, July 1995. A notebook of eight new papers and updates of four previous papers by Colton on utility restructuring. New paper titles are: "Funding Minority and Low-Income Energy Efficiency in a Competitive Electric Industry," "The Need for Regulation in a Competitive Electric Industry," "Credit and Collection Strategies in a Competitive Electric Utility Industry," "Rewriting the `Social Compact': A Competitive Electric Industry and Its Core Customers," "Economic Development Rates: Targeting, Justifying, Enforcing," "Economically Stranded Investment in a Competitive Electric Utility Industry," "Performance-Based Evaluation of Customer Collections in a Competitive Electric Utility Industry," and "Addressing Residential Collections Problems through the Offer of New Services in a Competitive Electric Industry." Previous papers are: "Models of Low-Income Utility Rates," "Identifying Savings Arising From Low-Income Programs," "Low-Income Programs and Their Impact on Reducing Utility Working Capital Allowances," "Beyond Social Welfare: Promoting the Earned Income Tax Credit as an Economic Development Strategy by Public Utilities." Contact: Roger Colton at Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Colton, Roger, of Fisher, Sheehan and Colton, Public Finance and General Economics, Financing A National Universal Service Fund (USF) for Residential Home Energy, March 1996, 116 pages. Proposes, suggests a structure for, and projects costs (utility-by utility) of an electricity-based charge through which to finance a low-income universal service fund as an alternative to federal LIHEAP funding improvements. Contact: Fisher, Sheehan and Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Colton, Roger, of Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, Public Finance and General Economics Consultants. Restructuring And The Low-Income Consumer: Legislative Implications For Colorado, April 1999. Prepared for the Colorado Electricity Advisory Panel of the Colorado General Assembly. Presents a socio-economic analysis of low-income households in order to determine the extent and distribution of poverty, the energy use of low-income consumers, and and low-income energy need in Colorado, reviews existing low--income energy assistance programs and summarizes potential impacts of electric restructuring on low-income households. Outlines potential Colorado-specific actions the legislature might take to address low-income energy needs, including a $55 million universal service fund.

Colton, Roger, of Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, Public Finance and General Economics Consultants. Electric Utility Restructuring and the Low-Income Consumer, Facts on File Nos. 7-12, October 1997. This paper presents a discussion of the anticipated impact on services and consumer protections, the potential for 'redlining', and environmental issues affecting the poor under electric utility restrucutring.

Colton, Roger, of Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, Public Finance and General Economics. "The Low-Income Interest in Electric and Natural Gas Utility Mergers and Acquisitions," June 1997, 29 pages. From a low-income perspective, summarizes recommended decision rules for use in assessing proposed electric utility mergers by state regulators. Contact: Roger Colton at Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Colton, Roger, of Fisher, Sheehan and Colton, Public Finance and General Economics, for the Indiana Citizens Action Campaign. Structuring A Low-Income `Wires Charge' for Indiana, June 1996, 50 pages. Outlines a proposal for a "wires charge" through which the state of Indiana could generate revenue both for cash assistance and energy-efficiency home improvements through a charge on all fuels. Estimates effects on ratepayers' bills for four alternative levels of funding and considers the effects of allocating program costs only to residential users or to all customer classes. Has prepared similar analyses for several other states. Contact: Fisher, Sheehan and Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Colton, Roger, for The Office of State and Community Programs, U.S. Department of Energy. The "Obligation to Serve" and a Competitive Electric Industry, July 1997, 83 pages. Overview of a societal obligation to serve outside the electric industry with a summary of 'lessons learned' for competitive electric utilities.    Presents components of a restructured electric industry's "obligation to serve" in support of universal service. Contact: Fisher, Sheehan and Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Colton, Roger.  "Using State Utility Commission Regulations to Control the 'Unregulated' Utility," Clearinghouse Review, August-September 1993, pp. 443-450. Discusses how state Public Utility Commission regulations can be useful in controlling the actions of Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) and in establishing protections for REC customers. Contact: Fisher, Sheehan and Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Colton, Stephen D. "Determining the True Cost of Low Income Customers," March 1997, 19 pages. Describes principles of Activity Based Costing and applies to a low-income customer  segment of an electric utility for a cost analysis.  Provides recommendations for using ABC data to answer public policy questions about electric service to low-income customers and to help electric companies reduce the cost of service to low-income customers.

The Consumer Research Foundation.  Universal Service in a Restructured Electric Industry, September 1997. Seeks to help policy makers preserve and advance universal service in an increasing competitive environment, and describes actions policy makers must take to promote universal service. Contact: Carl Oshiro, Consumer Research Foundation, Mill Valley, CA, (415) 381-0825.

Eisenberg, Joel. "What is Electricity Restructuring," 1996.  An excerpt from an article in Home Energy Magazine, November/December 1996, that provides a short introduction to electric industry restructuring.

Eisenberg, Joel and Linda Berry, for The Office of State and Community Programs, U.S. Department of Energy.  "An Introduction to Electric Industry Restructuring," July 1997, 24 pages. A summary of the electric industry, its residential markets, industry structure and current trends on a national and regional basis with some state and local information.  Its focus is to provide weatherization grant managers with information to assess leveraging opportunities in an electric industry restructuring environment and concludes with a section on low-income issues.

Fisher, Sheehan & Colton. Funding Stranded Benefits in a Restructured Electric Industry: A State Data Book, November 1996, 625 pages, $100 for utilities and consultants, $50, others. Includes tables for every state and the District of Columbia detailing costs on a per unit of energy basis of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, kerosene, and LPG to generate 100 percent of the 1986 LIHEAP funding and 150 percent of the 1986 LIHEAP funding (1996 dollars). Also details these costs spread out over all fuels and all customer classes, versus selected fuels and customer classes, and calculates what could be raised from revenue surcharges of from one-half percent to two percent based on various customer classes and fuels. Contact: Roger Colton at Fisher, Sheehan & Colton, 34 Warwick Road, Belmont, MA 02178; (617) 484-0597.

Guinane, Kay, for Environmental Action. Group Buying Power: Meaningful Choices for Energy Consumers, May 1997.  A discussion of small customer aggregation that is necessary to equalize bargaining power in a competitive market place after electric industry restructuring.  Includes a section on low-income groups. Contact: Kay Guinane, NCLC, 1875 Connecticut Ave., Ste. 510, Washington, D.C. 20009; (202) 986-6060.

Hempling, Scott, for The National Council on Competition and the Electric Industry. "Disclosure of Fuel Mix and Emissions by Retail Electric Service Providers: Issues of Confidentiality vs. Public Right to Know," July 1997, 37 pages. Disclosure of fuel mixtures and the air emissions generated by that mix is critically important to some consumers when choosing an electricity supplier. Retail suppliers are concerned that priority information or 'trade secrets' may be divulged in the disclosure process. This paper addresses the legal and policy aspects of that concern.

LIHEAP Clearinghouse, based on information provided by Fisher Sheehan and Colton and the Colorado Energy Assistance Foundation) "Colorado Merger Settlement Provides Long-term Low-Income Funding and Protections," April 2000.

LIHEAP Clearinghouse "Statewide Coalitions Seeking New Approaches to Supplement Low-Income Energy Programs," June 1997. Features activities of statewide low-income energy groups that, among other things, work to obtain more funding for LIHEAP and weatherization programs, act as advocates for low income energy needs, and testify as intervenors in utility rate cases. Profiles groups in AZ, CA, IN, IA, MN, MI, MO, NJ, OH, WA.

MacGregor, Theo, MacGregor Energy Consultancy. Low-Income Conservation Programs In Competitive Energy Industries: A Statewide Approach, February 1999. This paper outlines the essential elements of a statewide, comprehensive energy conservation program targeted to low-income consumers who may be affected by electricity and gas price increases due to utility restructuring. Elements of the program include components to consider in a cost-effectiveness analysis, possible program administrators, funding mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.

Marshall, Pam, Energy CENTS, and Roger D. Colton, Fisher, Sheehan and Colton. Aggregating Low Income Customers: Can Market-Based Solutions Fix Market-Based Problems,? June 1998. The 62-page report provides an overview of the risks deregulation poses to low-income customers, an introduction to aggregation models, and recommendations for aggregation that describe why segregating low-income households is a bad idea. If some states prohibit other forms of aggregation, the report recommends a statewide LIHEAP aggregation and provides a detailed description of processes required to do so. The report's conclusions and recommendations are printed here. The report is available for $15 by contacting the Energy CENTS Coalition, (612) 872-3293, or centspam@mtn.org.

Moskovitz, David, Cheryl Harrington and Thomas Austin for The National Council on Competition and the Electricity Industry (The National Council). Synthesis Report: A Summary of Research on Information Disclosure, October 1998, 59 pages. In 1996 , The National Council initiated a major research project that addressed customer concerns on price and environmental issues of electric generation; how to develop and effectively convey this information; and input on information disclosure from a broad variety of stakeholders. This report summarizes that research.

National Community Action Foundation.  Electric Utility Restructuring Briefing Book. A comprehensive source of information available to CAAs on restructuring issues, CAAs, low-income people and energy programs, 500 pages.  Contact:  NCAF's web site.

National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, for the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Energy Assistance.  A Manual for Leveraging Funds in Energy Markets With the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, March 1996, 49 pages. Provides an introduction and road map to understanding the operations of bulk fuels, electric and gas utilities, public utility commissions, the changing regulatory environment, and alternative formats for financing low income energy assistance programs. Appendices include background information and testimony from low-income intervenors in utility rate cases.

Oppenheim, Jerry and Theo MacGregor. "Protecting Low-Income Consumers: Building on Two Decades of Lessons Learned,"  November 2000. The authors were commissioned by Entergy Corp. to determine the need for and feasibility of developing system benefit funds for implementation in Entergy's jurisdictions in Louisiana, New Orleans, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The paper describes low-income payment assistance and efficiency programs across the country and sets out an approach for computing low-income needs with respect to electricity andprices in the Entergy jurisdictions.

Oppenheim, Jerry and Theo MacGregor. "Low Income Consumer Utility Issues: A National Perspective," October 2000. This report provides a survey of assistance programs that public utility commissions have approved in most states (some through utility restructuring) to assist the low-income customers of utilities within their states. It is geared toward helping provide low-income advocates and other stakeholders information on the energy burden faced by low-income customers and programs designed to alleviate that burden in various states. It describes programs that lower payments, manage arrearages, weatherize and provide other energy efficiency measures, educate consumers, increase outreach to the target population, and evaluate the programs. To the degree such information is available, it discusses the costs and benefits of the various options and describes attempts to quantify benefits that have heretofore not been quantified.

Public Utility Commission of Texas, "Report to The Texas Senate Interim Committee on Electric Utility Restructuring: Revenues Supporting Low-Income, Energy Efficiency and Environmental Programs," July 1998. A study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas which identifies the amount of revenues that Texas electric utilities provide to fund low-income programs including energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Topics addressed in the report include: 1) characteristics of low-income households; 2) assessment of the demand for energy efficiency and renewable programs; and 3) consideration of low-income programs in the process of electric utility restructuring. The report is available for $6 plus $1.70 for shipping and a 7¼ % tax for Texas residents.  Contact: Helen Clements, Public Utility Commission of Texas, (512) 936-7075, fax: (512) 936-7058, email: clements@puc.state.tx.us.

Pye, Miriam. "Energy Efficiency Programs for Low-Income Households: Successful Approaches for a Competitive Environment," August 1996, 35 pages. Profiles successful utility energy efficiency programs for low-income customers. Details recommendations to energy efficiency programs to help them achieve their goals for low-income customers and to maximize their cost effectiveness and energy savings.

Schoengold, David, MSB Energy Associates: Report to Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy. "Electric Industry Restructuring in Ohio: Customer Impacts," August 1997, 23 pages. An analysis of the current electric utility cost structure in Ohio with estimates of changes due to various restructuring proposals and the resulting impacts on customers.

Texas Ratepayers' Organization to Save Energy, Inc. and Nancy Brockway.  Electric Utility "Restructuring" Can The Small Consumer Afford It?, March 1995, 64 pages. Presents an overview of how the electric industry is structured in Texas today. Examines how proposed electric utility deregulation will affect residential, low-income and small business consumers. Includes policy recommendations on electric utility competition for Texas.

Page Last Updated: May 14, 2008