Regarding the idea of making utilities publicly owned: California has partially done this, by authorizing Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) to purchase power from various producers for their local customers, while transmission grids continue to be owned & maintained by the 3 big state sanctioned utility monopolies. The CCAs are regulated by the state, but also have to answer to the local county governments they serve. Customers can opt out of their local CCA & purchase power from the utility if they like, but the CCAs have better rates for power. But the utilities actually administer customer billing & charge customers for transmission.
Regarding the idea of making utilities publicly owned: California has partially done this, by authorizing Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) to purchase power from various producers for their local customers, while transmission grids continue to be owned & maintained by the 3 big state sanctioned utility monopolies. The CCAs are regulated by the state, but also have to answer to the local county governments they serve. Customers can opt out of their local CCA & purchase power from the utility if they like, but the CCAs have better rates for power. But the utilities actually administer customer billing & charge customers for transmission.
This is a great idea. Next step---- Get alegislator to sponsor a bill proposing this change . Try Angelique Ashby---our local State Senator.