No timetable set for finishing the Gulf relief well, is the state of Pennsylvania going to deregulate its energy industry, and what makes a residential electricity customer from Texas happy?

Ret. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen has yet to instruct BP to complete the final steps for plugging their blown out well for good. Currently there is no timeline in place and BP has yet to show Allen that they have a sufficient plan in place to handle any increase in pressure that might be caused by the integration of the relief well with the blown-out well. Also, an issue of concern is that the initial plugging of the well may have trapped up to 1,000 barrels of oil in between the well pipe and the surrounding rock layers. While the scenario is considered unlikely, Allen wants to make sure every consideration is made before cementing the well for good.

Direct Energy is pushing for deregulation in Pennsylvania. The company submitted a proposal to state regulators showing that the state could save its citizens as much as $1 billion if the electricity market was allowed to open.  In this scenario Penelec and Allegheny Power would focus on their core competency of electric delivery and troubleshooting. And, this would allow numerous retail electric companies to enter the Pennsylvania and compete on the price.

According to a new study by JD Power & Associates, electricity prices are the key factor in deciding how much a Texas homeowner likes their energy provider. This is the third year that the study has been conducted, which researches how price, billing and payment, communications and customer service impacts the satisfaction of residential customers.  This most recent study also showed that because price is a key indicator of satisfaction, loyalty to a certain provider is not strong. Only 41 percent of customers surveyed have had the same provider for three years or longer, a drop from 49 percent from the previous year.

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