The Land Questions: #13 -- Electric Utilities

13. Electric utilities have long been regarded as "widows' and orphans'" stocks.  Safe, if not high income.  A few years ago, they were deregulated.  A recent study has shown that retail electricity prices have increased faster in states that adopted competitive pricing than in those where rates continue to be set by government agencies.  We all need reliable electricity.  Should we permit the licenses to generate and distribute electricity to be an opportunity to make a windfall profit?  (Or should we encourage municipal ownership of vital utilities?)

A.  Sure!  People and businesses are quite free to move from states without regulation to states with regulation if they choose.  They may not mind paying 20% more for their electricity, if other conditions are good. And didn't the utilities earn it?

B. Sure.  If local regulatory agencies decide that local best interests conflict with the interests of the corporate shareholders, they can re-regulate.  After all, the corporations don't vote.

C. No. Electricity is important and we ought to do what we can to keep the price down so that poor people can afford electricity and still have funds for other costs of living.

D. No.  Electricity is vital to the economy, and we ought to do what we can to keep it affordable to ordinary people, and not a source of corporate windfalls.

E. No.  Natural monopolies ought to be publicly owned, the prices kept low, and any excess revenue accrue to the public treasury, not to the benefit of private investors.

F. your suggestions?