The Florida state government has embarked on a long-term electricity study called Florida Energy 2020. The stated goal of this project is legislative change to create the potential benefits of electricity restructuring while phasing in these changes over a three-year transition period. The Energy 2020 Study Commission released its final report in December 2001, laying out proposals for the “deregulation” of Florida’s wholesale electricity market. 1 The commission recommends some changes that would foster competition and create consumer benefits, but they are few and far between. The report seems more interested in managing and controlling change than in striking a balance between change management and using market processes to unleash productive creativity in electricity and bring the benefits of choice to Florida’s consumers. The recommendations resemble musical chairs more than true deregulation.
