[19980504]98-419_电力重组背景：1978年《公用事业监管政策法案》和1992年《能源政策法案》.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS Web98-419 ENRMay 4, 1998Electricity Restructuring Background: The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (name redacted)Specialist in Energy PolicyEnvironment and Natural Resources Policy DivisionSummaryElectric utilities have been subject to comprehensive federal and state economicregulation since enactment of the Public Utilities Holding Company Act of 1935(PUHCA) and the Federal Power Act. This regulatory framework remained virtuallyunchanged between 1935 and 1978. The oil embargoes of the 1970s created concernsabout the security of the nations electricity supply leading to enactment of the PublicUtility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). For the first time, utilities wererequired to purchase power from outside sources.This first incremental change to traditional electricity regulation started amovement towards a market-oriented approach to electricity supply. Following theenactment of PURPA, two basic issues stimulated calls for further change: whether toencourage nonutility generation and whether to permit utilities to diversify i