Progress toward letting consumers choose their electric supplier has virtually ground to a halt in the United States, the latest edition of the Retail Energy Deregulation Index (RED Index) shows. As an alternative, however, experiments with "virtual choice" in regulated markets are picking up. The fourth edition of the RED Index, issued by the Center for the Advancement of Energy Markets (CAEM) at the Edison Electric Institute's National Accounts Conference, shows that California's well-publicized troubles, the Enron collapse and the financial crisis in the energy industry have all but halted progress on electricity competition in the U.S. The most positive development in retail energy competition is the emergence of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), the RED Index says. The report notes that Texas continues to lead the U.S. in electricity restructuring, while progress continues in Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand.

The most positive development in retail energy competition is the emergence of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), the RED Index says.

The report notes that Texas continues to lead the U.S. in electricity restructuring, while progress continues in Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand.