In this Episode
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Host: Todd Snitchler, President and CEO, Electric Power Supply Association
Guest: Chris Ercoli, President and CEO, REAL
In this episode of Energy Solutions, EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler sits down with Chris Ercoli, President and CEO of the Retail Energy Advancement League (REAL), to discuss the growing debate around electricity affordability, customer choice, and the future of competitive energy markets.
As electricity demand continues to grow and infrastructure costs rise, customers and policymakers are increasingly focused on affordability and reliability. Chris explains why REAL believes traditional utility models are struggling to adapt to modern customer expectations and why competitive retail markets can provide more flexibility, innovation, and price certainty.
The conversation explores how customers in competitive markets can choose products that align with their priorities—from fixed-price contracts to renewable energy options—and why REAL believes private investors should bear infrastructure risk instead of ratepayers.
Todd and Chris also discuss how states like Missouri are debating retail choice, why load growth from AI and manufacturing is reshaping the industry, and how innovative retail products in Texas are creating new opportunities for demand-side flexibility.
Topics include:
- Why electricity affordability has become a growing concern for consumers and policymakers,
- The difference between traditional utility models and competitive power markets,
- How customer choice can provide flexibility, price certainty, and customized energy products,
- Why states are reconsidering energy competition amid rising demand growth,
- The role of private capital versus ratepayer-backed utility investment,
- How utilities recover infrastructure costs through the rate base,
- Why large energy users are seeking direct access to competitive generation,
- How states like Missouri are debating energy choice and new generation investment,
- The risks associated with CWIP and long-term infrastructure cost recovery,
- And why REAL believes competitive power markets can help balance affordability, reliability, and investment needs.
Power Quote:
“We’re at this inflection point and the speed and the scale of the change, is so big that I don’t think this traditional rate-based model can bear the weight of all the investment that’s about to come.”
CHRIS ERCOLI, PRESIDENT AND CEO, REAL
Key Takeaways
Electricity Affordability Is Becoming a Central Policy Issue: As demand and infrastructure investment grow, consumers are paying closer attention to rising electricity bills. Ercoli argues that long-term infrastructure costs — not just short-term commodity spikes — are becoming a major affordability challenge.
“Customers are going to be opening their bill and saying, “What the heck is going on?” I can’t believe that my utility bill just effectively doubled.”
Competitive Markets Can Help Moderate Costs Over Time: Ercoli says policymakers should focus less on one-time price comparisons and more on long-term price trends. He argues competitive states have generally seen slower price growth over time than some vertically integrated markets.
“The better question we like to ask is, how have prices in your respective state evolved over time or performed over time?”
Retail Choice Gives Customers More Control: Competitive retail markets allow customers to choose products that fit their needs, including fixed-price contracts, renewable energy options, and customized energy plans.
“Some customers are price sensitive. Others want long term price certainty.”
Customers Want More Energy Choice: REAL’s polling found that customers overwhelmingly support having the option to choose their electricity supplier, even if they remain on default service.
“Roughly 90% of consumers believe that they should be able to choose their own power, even if they don’t want to shop for it.”
Utilities May Not Be Equipped for the Scale of New Generation Buildout: Ercoli argues that many utilities have not built large amounts of generation in decades and may struggle to deliver the massive amount of new infrastructure now being planned. He warns that customers could ultimately bear the costs of delays, overruns, and risk through rate-based utility investment models.
“They don’t have that kind of muscle to build out that generation because they haven’t done it in a very long time. You know that there’s going to be cost overruns and you know that it’s going to be very expensive.”
Missouri Is Emerging as a Key Retail Competition Debate: Missouri lawmakers are debating how to address rising demand and generation retirements, including whether competitive market reforms could reduce long-term customer costs.
“They need close in on about 10,000 megawatts of new capacity.”
Producer: Christina Nyquist, senior director, communications, EPSA
Associate Producer, Audio Editor: Anna Varnell, associate, communications, EPSA
Music Composed by: Let Me Hold That, Ltd.
