7403 - Declaration of policy.

     § 7403.  Declaration of policy.        The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:            (1)  Because of advances in electric generation        technology and Federal initiatives to encourage greater        competition in the wholesale electric market, it is now in        the public interest to permit retail customers to obtain        direct access to a competitive generation market as long as        safe and affordable service is available at levels of        reliability that are currently enjoyed by the citizens and        businesses of this Commonwealth.            (2)  Electric cooperative corporations which own and        operate electric generation, transmission or distribution        facilities in this Commonwealth, which are operated on a        nonprofit basis and which are owned and are democratically        controlled by the member-consumers which they serve are an        essential part of the rural infrastructure and an important        participant in the economic development and vitality of        significant areas of this Commonwealth.            (3)  In providing for customer choice for the member-        consumers of electric cooperative corporations, the financial        integrity, operations and independence of electric        cooperative corporations must be protected and preserved,        while comparable standards are provided for electric        suppliers for the provision of service to new loads, by        providing for the continued exemption for electric        cooperative corporations from the jurisdiction and control of        the commission and by providing for a separate system of        choice for persons in the service territories of electric        cooperative corporations.            (4)  The complete right of electric cooperative        corporations to compete with others in providing electric and        other services must be provided for throughout this        Commonwealth.