The Community Choice option is needed because almost no competition exists for residential and small business consumers in those states that have passed electricity deregulation legislation. Consumers have much more buying power together than they do separately.
Communities also can choose to purchase renewable energy or energy efficiency services.
By creating a large buying group, consumers become empowered through their local government to negotiate contracts protecting their pocketbooks and the environment. The incumbent utilities are making out like bandits by keeping their residential customers captive, because no real competition has developed for small users of electricity. Massachusetts adopted Community Choice legislation in 1997. To date, more than 50 communities throughout Massachusetts are actively pursuing Community Choice. Similar legislation became law recently with bipartisan support in Ohio.