The price residential customers pay for electricity from less than 5 cents to more than 15 cents per kilowatt-hour, depending on the local utility providing the service. The electric utility industry has changed dramatically since the Great Depression when the major laws regulating the industry were enacted. Each electric company was essentially a self-contained system. Today electricity moves from state and from power company to power company. The wholesale sale of electricity is a multi-billion dollar industry.
Lower prices are important.
You also will see a variety of service options. For example, you may be able to buy from a company using only landfill gas, solar or wind generated power. You can't lose by having companies compete for your business. In 1998 Senator Kevin Easley led the state with the passage of legislation that will provide for complete deregulation by the year 2002. Companies like North Star Power Marketing and your local electric company will compete to win you as a customer.