A functional solution for volatile markets

Retail customers in at least 24 US States are, or soon will be eligible to choose alternative electricity suppliers, according to the Energy Information Administration. Yet whether or not "choice" is meaningful depends in large part on who writes the rules. In too many jurisdictions, customer choice will be quite limited, not unlike what Henry Ford offered for the Model T: "Choose any color, as long as it\´s black." It doesn\´t have to be this way. We believe customers should have the same "choice" that utilities have in today\´s wholesale markets: the choice to use several supply sources concurrently. That choice can help customers maximize efficiency and reliability in meeting their unique load profiles. This "real" choice remains crucial to the success of competitive markets. In addition to multiple, concurrent suppliers, we believe that meaningful choice should include the opportunity for robust demand-side involvement and competitive markets in ancillary services (functions provided to ensure reliable operation of the electrical network).