Electric utilities: Poised for deregulation?: Competitive forces are an outgrowth of technical advances, regulatory constraints, and a slackening in the growth of demand

It is noted that for years the industry was treated as a monopoly, to be regulated by state and Federal governments. Now that view is changing as cogeneration and the `wheeling' of power between utilities become major factors in the once sheltered industry. The role that the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) of 1978 has played in fostering competition is discussed. The changes that would have to be made to the `national grid' before wheeling could be practiced on a massive scale are considered. Attention is also given to consumer protection in the absence of regulation.