TECC Group, Inc. has identified 14 U.S. investor-owned electric utilities (IOUs) as major players in research and development (R&D), with expenditures in excess of $10 million. TECC's report, U.S. Electric IOU Research, Development & Demonstration Expense Comparisons 1994, places Southern California Edison at the top of the list ($64 million) and PECO Energy Co. 14th ($11 million). In between, in descending order, we find: Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., Duke Power Co., Texas Utilities Electric Co., Georgia Power Co., Public Service Electric & Gas Co., Long Island Lighting Co., Houston Lighting & Power Co., Alabama Power Co., New York State Electric & Gas Corp., and Carolina Power & Light Co.
"While many U.S. electric R&D programs are being reduced, there is still a strong contingent that continues to invest in R&D," says TECC president, James R. Schetter. "These may be the real winners in the next 10 years, because they may be better positioned to exploit technologies that may enable efficient mergers and/or technologies." t
Lori A. Burkhart is an associate legal editor of PUBLIC UTILITIES FORTNIGHTLY.