Overcoming Deregulated Electricity Markets: Evaluating The Potential For A Platform For Retail Plan Evaluation

Abstract

Energy is one of the most hotly discussed topics of the modern age. One segment of these discussions is devoted to the environmental impact of energy production and consumption. The second segment of this discussion pertains to the markets for energy. These markets are highly varied between different areas of energy and power: oil and gas is sophisticated and driven by a variety of market pressures, while power generation and distribution are less so. This research will focus specifically on the power distribution space. In Texas, homeowners and other buyers of power from the grid are able to choose from many retailers. These retailers have policies and pricing structures that are nuanced and varied, and while all this information is made publicly available, it is hardly accessible to the average buyer. The following pages will discuss the nature of these markets and provide motivation for a platform that allows consumers to easily select optimum retail power plans based on their location and consumption habits.