New Tactics and Technologies to Meet The Competitive Utility Environment

Abstract

A new age is dawning for lower-cost energy use and supply. The
deregulation of the electric industry is creating new pricing options that will
change how we evaluate cost-cutting energy alternatives. As competition
begins, smart users will grasp these opportunities and press for greater
innovation on the part of marketers.
Energy users can best navigate these choices by:
• understanding the concepts inherent in deregulation (such as trans-
mission constraints)
• influencing the deregulation process (which does not end when
markets first open)
• learning to use new analytical tools (such as load profile analysis)
• applying new technologies (e.g., wireless automatic metering)
• being as creative as possible (because marketers won't be).