PURPA’s midlife crisis: Will its 40th birthday be one of fundamental change?

Abstract

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 has played a key role in the spread of independent power producers and the dislodgment of the classic monopoly utility model. As its 41st anniversary arrives, the possibility of changes at the national level seems likely, particularly tweaks by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to the one-mile rule. In the less likely chance that Congress passes a bill on PURPA, then the changes could be drastic.