A major concern is the obligation to serve. Under regulation, an electric utility must serve everyone in its territory. This is a consumer benefit of regulation which should be kept if the generation function of electricity is deregulated. Generators, marketers and aggregators should not be allowed to unfairly discriminate against consumers. If providers are allowed to consider a consumer's credit history and either deny service or set a deposit so high as to prevent that consumer's ability to obtain service, that consumer will get no comfort in being told he is free to obtain service elsewhere.
Electricity is a necessity of life.
There must be sufficient government oversight to guard against such barriers. Another concern is that providers be subject to licensing requirements which prevent fraud, spread the risk in the event of business failure, and assure that the provider is able to provide adequate and reliable service. Marketing guidelines should be in place which would prevent fraudulent and deceptive marketing practices. Your present utility will continue to provide delivery of electricity through its transmission and distribution lines. Those services will continue to be regulated.