Abstract
Restructuring of the electric utility industry has received much attention in the national media as higher electric rates have been experienced this year in major population centers such as San Diego, CA and Westchester County, NY. Further, the lack of adequate electric capacity (and/or the ability to transmit the electricity) has continued to plague major metropolitan areas such as Detroit, MI and Silicon Valley. What role does waste to energy have in helping solve these problems? This paper will discuss the real life experience of a waste to energy project (Bristol, CT Resource Recovery Facility) in the rapidly changing world of electric deregulation. When Connecticut passed its restructuring legislation in 1998 (Public Act 98-28), no one realized how much effort would have to be spent at the agency level to preserve and protect existing power purchase agreements, especially those with “above market” pricing structures. In a state such as Connecticut where the adopted legislation was considered very favorable to private power producers such as waste to energy, many surprises have occurred during the implementation of the legislation. Understanding how Connecticut’s electric restructuring legislation has been implemented will help those with interests in any waste to energy, landfill gas, biomass or other renewable power source be better prepared to manage similar state and federal legislative initiatives.
