A coalition of retail energy providers has released the results of a statewide survey demonstrating overwhelming support for energy choice. Key findings include:

• Eighty-five percent of Virginians want to be able to choose an electric supplier;
• Sixty-six percent of Virginians favor competition among electricity providers to keep rates low; only 18% believe residents should rely on government regulation;
• Nearly 67% believe the cost of building power plants should be borne by the utility and oppose plans to have those costs covered by ratepayers.

The Alliance for Retail Choice advocates for continued development of retail energy markets that provide customers the opportunity to choose the products and services most consistent with their needs. The Alliance provides a focused voice for competitive energy retailers and their customers in selected public policy forums on the federal and state level. The Alliance brings together many of the nation's leading retail energy suppliers, including Constellation NewEnergy, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy Company, Strategic Energy, and Reliant Energy. Collectively serving more than 38,000 MW of customer load, Alliance members offer competitive power supply, renewable energy, demand response products and energy management technologies.