As with more than one system, power should be regulated for the public interest. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But the much-vaunted free market is just NOT the solution for everything that ails us. There are some things that just have to be regulated. In fact, many more than some would have us believe. Power is just one of them.

Having said that, however, we should brace ourselves for steady price increases. Between environmental concerns and increased competetion for dwindling supplies of oil and whatnot, the prices will have to go up, regulated or not.