Madison, WI - The Customers First Coalition is highlighting a recent column exposing the dangers of electric deregulation published at RealClearEnergy. In a compelling September 2, 2025, column, Gary Meltz, Executive Director of Power for Tomorrow, reminds us that, despite the promise of competition, electric deregulation historically has led to higher—not lower—power bills. Evidence across multiple regions and periods underscores this point:

• Montana, once driven by hopes of lower costs, instead saw soaring prices after deregulation—consumers ended up paying billions more compared to remaining under traditional utility systems.
• In Texas, deregulation saw residential rates spike sevenfold in the first years, with long-term costs exceeding $24 billion—about $5,100 per household—compared to regulated markets.
• The Maryland experience under the 1999 deregulation law led to a staggering 72% boost in customer rates amid fuel price surges.
• And of course, California’s 2000–2001 energy crisis—rooted in flawed deregulation design—triggered rolling blackouts, bankrupt utilities, and devastating rate hikes, driven by market manipulation.

These patterns aren’t isolated—deregulated states repeatedly register higher electricity costs compared to their regulated peers. The Customers First Coalition has existed for over three decades to help educate Wisconsin lawmakers about the dangers of deregulation, and we applaud the national efforts of Power for Tomorrow to help promote sensible utility regulation.

Read Meltz's column at RealClearEnergy, here: https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/09/02/electric_deregulation_historically_means_higher_power_bills_1132378.html