Decades After Enron Debacle, Electricity Deregulation Is Back

Almost two decades ago, rolling blackouts and soaring power prices across California killed a nationwide movement to deregulate electricity markets and end the monopoly of traditional utilities.

Now deregulation is back in two of the most populous U.S. states. And utilities are girding for a fight.

In Florida, a proposed ballot measure would end monopolies held by NextEra Energy Inc. and Duke Energy Corp., allowing residents to pick their own power providers. And in Virginia, groups from both ends of the political spectrum are pressing lawmakers to break Dominion Energy Inc.’s hold on the state.

The outcomes will reverberate through ...