Utility Deregulation The electric utility industry began in the late 1870's as street lighting and electric railway business by private electric companies. Through the years it has grown to become one of the nation's largest business enterprises. Some municipally owned electric systems were established to provide street lights and to replace arc lighting systems during a depression period when electric companies were unable to secure funds for expansion (Weidenbaum 1995). Electricity service is customarily viewed as consisting of three parts: production of power, transmission of the energy over high-voltage lines, and low local distribution to th