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Electric industry reregulation
Electric industry reregulation exists to apply regulatory laws to utilities that seem to
operate under a natural monopoly, even after a restructuring of the power industry
that intended to break down monopolistic utilities.
Electric industry restructuring
The goal of restructuring is to permit competition within the electricity market,
ultimately resulting in customers being able to choose their own supplier of
electricity. Electric industry restructuring therefore consists of deconstructing
monopolies and vertically integrated systems across the electric industry. This allows
for competition in the market, and consumer choice, but the electricity will still travel
through the distribution lines of the local utility.
Electric power grid (The Grid)
The electric power grid, also known colloquially as "the grid" is an interconnected
system across the united states that allows for electricity delivery from the electricity
producers to the consumers. The grid utilizes transmission and distribution lines to
transport electricity from point A to point B. In the US, there are three large grid
systems that connect to one another, including the Eastern Interconnect, the
Western Interconnect, and the Texas Interconnect. In non-continental states, such as
Alaska, there are multiple systems that cover the state. The electric grid, while large
and sprawling now, was developed bit by bit over the years, and the infrastructure is
now largely out of date; it is increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change,
including large storms and overcapacity.
