AN ANALYSIS OF RETAIL ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS COMPETITION: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS Barbara R. Alexander Consumer Affairs Consultant June 2013 Barbara R. Alexander opened her own consulting practice in March 1996. From 1986-1996 she was the Director, Consumer Assistance Division, at the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Her special area of expertise has been the exploration of and recommendations for consumer protection, universal service programs, service quality, and consumer education policies to accompany the move to electric, natural gas, and telephone competition. She has authored “A Blueprint for Consumer Protection Issues in Retail Electric Competition”(Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, October, 1998). In addition, she has published reports that address policies associated with the provision of basic or “default” electric and natural gas service, smart meter pricing and consumer protection policies, consumer protection policies and programs that impact low income customers, and, in cooperation with Cynthia Mitchell and Gil Court, an analysis of renewable energy mandates in selected states. Her clients include national consumer organizations, state public utility commissions, and state public advocates. The author gratefully acknowledges the time and input from several colleagues on a draft of this report, specifically Janee Briesemeister of AARP, John Howat of National Consumer Law Center, Allen Cherry, an attorney with the Low Income Advocacy Project in Illinois, Aimee Gendusa-English with Citizens Utility Board in Illinois, and Pat Cicero of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project. Of course, any errors or omissions are those of the author alone. Ms. Alexander can be reached at
[email protected] This report was prepared under contract with Ingenium Professional Services, Inc.