Puget Power Wants Customer Flexibility

Puget Sound Power & Light Co. has submitted a plan to Washington regulators that would give all its customers the ability to buy power at market prices.

The plan, filed Friday with the Utilities and Transportation Commission, goes one better than a three-week-old Washington Water Power Co. proposal that would limit open-market access to its 30 largest customers, whose purchases would be restricted to one-third of their requirements for two years.

With deregulation transforming the utility industry, the plans would position both companies to exploit the Northwest’s low-cost resources, particularly hydropower.

The Puget proposal, which is contingent on completion of its merger with Washington Energy Co., would not allow its 30 largest customers to buy anywhere, but would entitle them to buy at the going market rate.

Spokeswoman Kristen Wappler said customers could save almost two cents per kilowatt-hour at today’s prices.

After the merger, representatives from all customer classes would form a panel to decide how to spread the benefits of deregulation. , DataTimes