Paper: Preparing For Electricity Deregulation In Texas

Beginning January 1, 2002 competitive forces will be introduced into the Texas retail electricity market. The march to a competitive market was set in motion in June 1999 by Governor George Bush signing Texas Senate Bill 7 or SB7 into law. SB7 begins a process of unbundling or separating the utilities" functions into three distinct areas - generation, transmission and distribution and REPs (Retail Electric Providers). SB7 will bring profound changes in the way we purchase power at our homes and in our professional lives. Deregulation will bring choice. This choice brings added responsibility, which lies flatly on the shoulders of you the end user.