What’s Energy Deregulation?
Helping you cut through the confusion.
Energy deregulation is the reason that you can shop for an energy provider in the first place. It gives you the power to switch your electricity or natural gas supplier and ultimately affects how much you will pay for your energy.
Electricity and gas service consists of two parts: “supply”, which is the actual energy generated or pumped out of the ground, and “delivery,” which is the process of delivering that commodity through pipes and wires to the customer. Energy deregulation splits those two functions, allowing for retail competition on the supply side and giving customers the power to choose. Elite Energy advisors will help you find the best products and prices to fit your energy strategy.
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855-557-6544 to speak with an associate immediately!
| State |
Gas |
Year |
Electric |
Year |
Comments |
| Alabama |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Alaska |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Arizona |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
In 2004 energy regulation was placed on hold due to various regulatory orders. |
| Arkansas |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
In 2003 Bill 1114 was signed to reverse energy deregulation laws. |
| California |
Yes |
1995 |
Yes* |
N/A |
*California’s electric choice works on a very limited lottery system called DirectAcccess. |
| Colorado |
Yes |
1999 |
No |
N/A |
Colorado is Natural Gas Deregulated, however no utilities currently offer choice programs. |
| Connecticut |
Yes* |
1996 |
Yes |
1998 |
*Gas choice is partial and very limited. |
| Delaware |
No* |
N/A |
Yes |
1999 |
*Gas choice was trialed and discontinued. |
| Florida |
Yes |
2002 |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Georgia |
Yes |
1998 |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Hawaii |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Idaho |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Illinois |
Yes |
2002 |
Yes |
1997 |
Approximately 75% of the state of Illinois is eligible for Natural Gas Choice. |
| Indiana |
Yes |
1998 |
No |
N/A |
Natural Gas Choice is only available for NIPSCO customers. |
| Iowa |
Yes* |
1997 |
No |
N/A |
*Natural Gas Choice is only available to a small number of consumers. |
| Kansas |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Kentucky |
Yes |
2000 |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Louisiana |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Maine |
Yes* |
1998 |
Yes |
2000 |
*Natural Gas Choice underwent more of a ‘restructuring’ process. It is only available to Industrial and Commercial consumers. |
| Maryland |
Yes* |
1995 |
Yes |
1999 |
*Some residential, commercial and industrial customers in some areas of Maryland are not eligible for Natural Gas Choice. |
| Massachusetts |
Yes |
1998 |
Yes |
1998 |
No Comments |
| Michigan |
Yes |
2008 |
Yes |
1998 |
No Comments |
| Minnesota |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Mississippi |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Missouri |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Montana |
Yes |
1986 |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Nebraska |
Yes |
1998 |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Nevada |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
Nevada is currently campaigning to adopt energy deregulation. The status of this state could change in the near future. |
| New Hampshire |
Yes* |
1998 |
Yes |
1998 |
*New Hampshire does not offer Natural Gas Choice to residential customers at this time. |
| New Jersey |
Yes |
1999 |
Yes |
1999 |
No Comments |
| New Mexico |
Yes |
1980s |
No |
N/A |
Natural Gas Choice is available however, participation is very limited. |
| New York |
Yes |
1999 |
Yes |
1997 |
No Comments |
| North Carolina |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| North Dakota |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Ohio |
Yes |
1997 |
Yes |
1996 |
No Comments |
| Oklahoma |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
In 2001 Senate Bill 440 was signed for further investigation and study of the impacts of energy deregulation. |
| Oregon |
No |
N/A |
Yes |
1997 |
No Comments |
| Pennsylvania |
Yes |
1999 |
Yes |
1996 |
No Comments |
| Rhode Island |
Yes |
1996 |
Yes |
1996 |
No Comments |
| South Carolina |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| South Dakota |
Yes |
2005 |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Tennessee |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Texas |
No |
N/A |
Yes |
2002 |
Electricity deregulation is available to 85% of Texans. |
| Utah |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Vermont |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Virginia |
Yes |
2001 |
Yes |
2007 |
Both Natural Gas and Electric Choice programs are limited for residential consumers. |
| Washington |
No |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
No Comments |
| Washington DC |
Yes |
1999 |
Yes |
2001 |
No Comments |
| West Virginia |
Yes |
2010 |
No |
N/A |
Natural Gas Choice is available but participation is very limited. |
| Wisconsin |
No* |
N/A |
No |
N/A |
*Wisconsin’s Natural Gas Choice program was discontinued in 2001. |
| Wyoming |
Yes* |
1996 |
No |
N/A |
*Very limited program, only one utility offers a choice program. |
This page will be updated as frequently as necessary.
