LANSING – There are more video service choices in the state, but fewer people choosing them, while there are more companies taking advantage or electric choice, according to reports issued this week by the Public Service Commission.
In video, the number of choices was up, but the number of subscribers was down, the annual report said.
Communities surveyed indicated growth in the number of providers, with only 16 communities saying they have no cable provider, down from 20 in 2007; and 166 saying they have only one, down from 232 in 2007.
One community now has four different cable providers, the report said.
And a new company, Waldron Communication Company, has entered the state.
But the 2.3 million subscribers statewide is a 2.5 percent drop from 2009, which had been a peak for subscribers among recent years.
The number of complaints also increased to 1,074 from 1,020 in 2009.
The state’s two largest utilities saw more of their customers move to choice, but mostly because their overall load increased, the annual electric choice report said. Both had risen back to the choice customer cap by January 12.
The report said 7,470 commercial and industrial customers were using a competitive provider, up from 5,429 in 2009. That represented 2,043 megawatts of load, up from 1,558 MW the year prior.
The state saw a net loss of competitive energy providers, with Geary Energy and DPOL Energy Resources licensed but with three providers relinquishing their licenses. That left 23 alternative energy providers for the year.
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