Arkansas

Restructuring Overview | Restructuring Resources

Legislation Passed
Electric Y Gas N

2003, HB1114 ; The Electric Utility Regulatory Reform Act

1999, SB 791; The Electric Consumer Choice Act

Electric
Overview

• In December 2001, the Arkansas Public Service Commission recommended that the state legislature either suspend the state's electricity deregulation law until 2010 or completely repeal the measure. The commission's chairman testified before a legislative panel that electricity customers would pay more for their electricity service under a competitive market than under continued rate regulation.

Choice Status

• In 2003, the Arkansas Legislature passed a bill ending restructuring, requiring the PSC to study the feasibility of allowing electric retail access for industrial customers, and increasing the PSC’s power to oversee utilities’ resource planning and power purchases.

Natural Gas
Overview

• Arkansas has no unbundled service programs for residential customers. Large-volume industrial and commercial consumers can purchase their own gas if they can show that they are near a pipeline.

State Restructuring Resources

Utility Regulatory Commission
Public Service Commission
1-800-482-1164
www.accessarkansas.org/psc/

Consumer advocate
Attorney General's Office
Consumer Protection Division
1-800-482-8982
www.ag.state.ar.us/

Choice education
www.state.ar.us/psc/consumerinfo.htm
This state website provides a brief introduction to the electric restructuring process. It has no information about the status of restructuring since Arkansas postponed implementation, but the site does state that, "As decisions are made and plans are finalized, the APSC will issue: * news releases; * additional consumer publications."