In a scathing attack on the campaign for Florida electric choice, Brian Burgess, publisher and editor-in-chief of Florida political publication The Capitolist, alleges that the executive director of Citizens for Energy Choices, Alex Patton, "has embarked on a relentless tour de force of dishonesty."

Among other reasons, Burgess complains that Patton is inaccurately describing the rate impacts from the Texas model of restructuring.

Burgess buttresses his argument using a 2011 news story as well as data that is no newer than 2014. A 2007 USA Today article is thrown in for good measure

Burgess concedes that while prices in retail choice areas of Texas have fallen, Burgess states, "Prices in deregulated markets would have to fall far below regulated market prices, and stay well below that point, for at least twenty years just to make up for the $25 billion+ in lost savings since 2001."

Burgess also cites the recent Calpine input error in ERCOT as evidence that restructured markets, "can be manipulated at the expense of utility customers."

See the full story at The Capitolist

--- By Paul Ring