The state needs new energy plants for real competition to exist. Without increased capacity, consumers have no choice. Deregulation should not be a goal in itself, but a tool to expand choice, improve service and lower rates in the long run. The Energy 2020 Study Commission should endorse the principle that the public interest demands affordable and reliable access to electricity. States need to retain some oversight in a deregulated environment, to prevent price-gouging and service disruptions down the line, from wholesale suppliers to their utilities and customers.
Power is the backbone of a functional society.
The president's reluctance to help ignores the role the federal government should play in coordinating energy policy with the states. Defending the borders, promoting trade and protecting ships and aviation all depend on ready and affordable power. Drilling for natural gas, a major source of energy in the coming years, also sets a showdown in energy policy, notably in Florida, which might cause tension between the Bush brothers. We won't succeed merely by deregulating under any scheme or avoiding California's distinct mistakes. St. Petersburg Times.