North Carolina

Legislation Passed
Electric N Gas N

Electric
Overview

• 1997: A restructuring bill was introduced, but it did not pass. Instead the legislature enacted SB 38, which established a study commission on the future of electric service.
• 1999: In May, the Governor signed HB778, which expanded the study commission by six members, including three additional state representatives and three additional state senators.
• 2000: In April, the study commission approved recommendations that would allow retail competition beginning January 1, 2005, with all customers to have choice one year later. In July, the General Assembly passed the 2000 Appointments Bill, Senate Bill 1385, adding a 30th member to the study commission -- the chief executive officer of North Carolina Power Company or the chief executive officer's designee.
• In December, ElectriCities, representing municipal utilities in the state, withdrew its support for legislative action, and asked the commission to rescind its April recommendations. ElectriCities called for continued study, citing market power concerns, increasing natural gas prices, the need for public hearings on stranded costs, and the problems in California.
• 2001: In January, the commission voted to continue its study, focusing on wholesale markets, consumer protection and renewables. The commission did not propose any legislation for the 2001 session and decided to place its restructuring deliberations on hold until 2002.
• 2002: Meeting in March for the first time in a year to discuss the status of electric deregulation, the Study Commission on the Future of Electric Service in North Carolina decided that, due to the California energy crisis and the repercussions of Enron’s collapse, it would recommend that the legislature delay the start of deregulation beyond 2006. The commission launched a study to investigate the effects of deregulation in Texas and Virginia.

Natural Gas
Overview

• No retail unbundling program is being considered at this time by either the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission or the state legislature. The emphasis instead is on trying to get gas service to all areas of the state. Industrial and commercial customers are able to receive unbundled service.

Utility Regulatory Commission
North Carolina Utilities Commission
919-733-9277
www.ncuc.commerce.state.nc.us/

Consumer advocate
Office of the Attorney General
Utilities Section
919-716-6055
www.jus.state.nc.us/cpframe.htm