Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978, Fact Sheet.

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978, passed under the Carter Administration in response to the 1973 energy crisis, sought to encourage energy conservation, use of renewable energy, and consumption of domestic sources of energy by creating a market for power from non-utility power producers. PURPA sought to reduce the monopoly power of regulated utilities by forcing them to purchase electricity generated by competing energy generators. 

Why were utilities granted regional, regulated monopolies decades earlier? What might have been the pros and cons of deregulating the utility sector?  What interests might be served by deregulation?

Citation: 

Amy Abel, “Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978: A Fact Sheet,” Congressional Research Services, The Library of Congress, July 30, 1992.

Document Source Link: 

Fact Sheet on the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act 1978

Library Item Date: 

1992