Residential Customers Express Support for Electricity Choice

Recent polls show that a substantial majority of residential electricity customers want the innovation and opportunities provided by competitive electricity suppliers. In addition, the polls show that customers understand the value of competition in bringing cost discipline to electricity markets.

According to a recent poll in Pennsylvania, 63 percent of those asked strongly believe it is important to have competitive electricity suppliers providing innovative product offerings. A poll in Connecticut early in the summer found that almost nine out of 10 Connecticut voters (87 percent) want the ability to choose their electric supplier.

In addition, in Pennsylvania 68 percent of those polled agreed that competition among electric companies is an effective way to control rising energy costs. The Connecticut survey produced an identical finding: 68 percent polled there consider competitive markets to be the best way to deliver lower energy costs.

Innovative products in which customers expressed interest include electricity from renewable resources, programs that provide discounted rates for reduced electricity use during periods of peak demand, and advanced technologies that allow users to control their electricity costs.

The poll in Pennsylvania was conducted by Triad Strategies, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based firm, and was sponsored by Strategic Energy. The poll in Connecticut was sponsored by the Retail Electric Supply Association (RESA) and was conducted by PFM Consulting of West Hartford, CT. The Pennsylvania poll was based on 700 telephone interviews. The CT poll was based on 501 telephone interviews.