An essential part of American life is our right to choose from what we say to where we live and what we purchase. However, not all Americans enjoy the same freedoms when it comes to energy. Today, only 13 states and Washington, D.C. allow consumers to choose how they heat their homes or power their businesses. This equates to only 28% of states having a choice in their energy supplier. Interestingly, Ragner Research conducted a national poll and found that 74% of consumers (or 3 out of 4 voters) want to select their energy provider. RESA’s map below represents which states offer energy choice, limited choice, or no choice in the U.S.
Full Retail Power Choice: The state has restructured its power market. This indicates the state’s investor-owned utilities include few or no generation assets in the rate base and most rate classes (including residential) can choose a retail supplier with limited restrictions. Meanwhile, customers served by Co-Ops and Munis typically do not enable choice in these states.
Limited Retail Power Choice: The state has not restructured its power market, but some retail customers (usually limited to large commercial & industrial [C&I] customers) can choose a retail supplier within certain limits such as under caps or percentages and/or with restrictions based on customer size or product type.
Full Retail Gas Choice: This designation indicates the state’s Local Distribution Company (LDC) has transportation tariffs in place that allow C&I customers to cost-effectively choose a retail gas supplier. It also includes states that have one or more LDCs which enable smaller volume commercial and residential customers to choose a retail gas supplier in a cost-effective manner.
Limited Retail Gas Choice: This designation indicates some LDCs in this state have transportation tariffs in place that enable some larger volume C&I customers to cost-effectively choose a retail gas supplier. However, these LDCs do not have tariffs in place which enable small volume transportation customers to choose a retail gas supplier in a cost-effective manner.
