PROCEEDING SLOWLY ON ELECTRIC DEREGULATION

Proposed deregulation of the sale of electric utilities has moved onto the national agenda in a big way. State after state is at least looking at this complex issue, and Missouri is no exception. In Missouri, a joint House-Senate study committee has been established to investigate the matter and propose legislation. The committee is chaired by veteran state Sen. Wayne Goode, D-St. Louis. Goode's approach is to proceed cautiously.

The idea that electric utility service should be sold competitively in the same manner that long-distance telephone service is today is an attractive prospect. The cost of long-distance telephony has fallen steadily since the 1984 breakup of the old Bell system, and proponents point to similar gains for electric consumers if deregulation occurs. Especially interested are large, energy-intensive industrial users such as Procter & Gamble. It is well and good that these fine corporate citizens should promote this cause.

Still, it isn't clear that rapid action is possible in Missouri, given the opposition of groups designating themselves as consumer advocates, combined with labor groups worried about possible job loss. Goode and his committee members seem disposed to proceed slowly, perhaps proposing legislation to their colleagues this fall for consideration in next year's session beginning in January. Meanwhile, Missouri can study the actions taken by other states and learn from their successes as well as their mistakes.