Power for Tomorrow is the nation’s leading resource for providing practical research, commentary, and information regarding how the regulated electric utility model protects consumers and supports environmental and public policy goals.

PFT was launched following the tragedy in deregulated Texas. Despite its dangerous flaws, efforts to deregulate electricity markets remain. In fact, a number of well-funded groups exist to promote utility restructuring and deregulation.

We offer a practical analysis of how regulated utilities are best positioned to produce reliable electricity, protect consumers, and adapt to the quickly changing energy landscape; all while allowing states to pursue their own public policy goals.

Our advocacy is focused on ensuring that the public, government officials, the media and other interested parties understand that sensible oversight of utilities is the best regulatory framework to ensure consumers have access to affordable, reliable, and increasingly clean energy.

We stand for electric utility regulation that:

• Puts consumers first. The complicated electric market is difficult for consumers to navigate, and fundamentally is designed to benefit large business interests. Sensible regulation is at core a consumer protection issue, and all electric systems should be designed to first protect consumers as the need for electricity in everyday life increases.

• Ensures reliable access to affordable power. The vertically integrated utility model, in which electricity generation, transmission and distribution are fully integrated within one provider, is well positioned to empower customers to benefit from the changing electric grid. It also ensures that states can protect customers by providing them access to reliable, affordable power and helps achieve public policy goals.

• Promotes a clean energy future. The regulated utility model offers benefits to consumers and the environment as the nation transitions to a cleaner energy future. Energy choices made through a planned, integrated process can keep rates low, maintain reliability and meet environmental priorities.

• Spurs innovation. Regulation must keep pace with the rapidly evolving dynamics of the utility industry, matching the pace of intense innovation in the energy sector. Appropriately regulated, the vertically integrated utility can harness robust energy sector competitive dynamics to benefit consumers.

Regulators and vertically integrated energy companies should also explore ways to modernize regulation to deliver increased customer value. Such reforms should prioritize:

• New and existing infrastructure. The infrastructure of the networked grid is the single greatest asset to facilitate the new energy economy and the regulated model ensures that all customers get affordable, reliable service.

• Fair, equitable access to electricity that benefits the greater good. Regulation must ensure that those who benefit from the grid pay their appropriate share so that special interests don’t get special deals at the expense of the public at-large.

• Clean energy investment. A successful transition to a more sustainable power system cannot be accomplished without substantial investment from financially viable energy companies.

• Innovation. Customer demands for customized energy solutions like solar, distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, storage and microgrids can be accomplished through a regulatory environment that grants flexibility and gives incentives to innovate to meet consumer needs.