search
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • FEATURED PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
    • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
    • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
    • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • WATER TREATMENT
    • PMC COLUMNS
      • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
      • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
      • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
      • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
      • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
    • CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
    • FIRE PROTECTION
    • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
    • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
    • PME COLUMNS
      • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
      • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
      • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
      • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
      • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
      • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
    • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
    • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
    • CODES
    • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
    • PROJECT PROFILES
    • COLUMNS
      • Codes Corner
      • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
      • Guest Editorial
    • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
    • EBOOKS
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
    • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
    • DIRECTORIES
    • PM BOOKSTORE
    • CE CENTER
    • MARKET RESEARCH
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
  • SIGN UP!
Columns

Beware Of Greeks Bearing Gifts

By Jim Olsztynski
June 1, 2000
Cut me some slack, all you PC mopes, as well as my estimable readers of Greek heritage. No ethnic slur is intended by the headline. It’s a famous literary expression penned by the Roman epic poet Virgil referring to the celebrated Trojan horse episode in the Iliad tale of ancient Greece. Given the contents of that Trojan horse, Virgil’s sentiments were right on the money.

And so, too, is my borrowing of the saying to describe an interesting development on the utility competition front. Crossing my desk recently was an unsolicited manuscript by one M. William Brier, vice president, marketing and communication, of the Edison Electric Institute, the trade association of the electric utility industry. It was an op-ed commentary aimed at contractor publications — although someone at EEI forgot to stroke some keys in the word processor and it went out under the title, “Only Truly Competitive Electricity Markets Will Benefit Manufacturers.” Having suffered my share of typos, I will refrain from gloating, but not from noting that the mistake inadvertently draws attention to the article’s status as boilerplate propaganda.

Stating Their Case: The gist of the article is that contractors/manufacturers (choose your audience) are wrong-headed in trying to put restrictions on utility affiliates, such as those engaged in marketing PHC services. “The full promise of electricity competition for contractors — choice and savings, product and service innovations, and ultimately, stronger local economies — stands threatened,” warns Brier.

“Let’s say the local electric company, who knows you, understands your operation, would like to make an offer to help you reduce your costs and improve your productivity with innovative energy services,” he writes. “You may not have the option of working with them, because of these forced mandates.”

Something to think about for all of you folks out there whose local utilities, being so knowledgeable and understanding of your business — bless their big hearts — have offered to help you reduce costs and improve your productivity. Kind of reminds me of that special helping hand mobsters offer to small business owners who are in need of protection.

“We believe that state-imposed, discriminatory restraints ... are unnecessary, anti-competitive, and will artificially distort the retail marketplace,” Brier continues. “Those who will benefit under these regulations are the other competitors, not manufacturers” — oops, someone at EEI better get the hang of working with glossaries.

“Utilities and their affiliates should be free to use their resources ... to the best of their ability. Let the marketplace, not the statehouse, decide who wins or loses the battle for new customers.” And what’s in it for contractors? In Brier’s vision, there’s “expanded choice ... lower electricity prices ... and inspired product and service innovation.”

Freedom For Slave Traders: In many another context most of us would heartily endorse such a stirring appeal for free enterprise. Except this has a disingenuous quality, like arguing on behalf of free markets for slave traders. The central issue, that of a level playing field between utility PHC service providers and independent contractors, goes unaddressed. Brier also seems oblivious to the stark reality that a few pennies saved on electrons would be meaningless for contractors driven out of business by cross-subsidized competitors.

Interesting, though, isn’t it, that utility interests find it prudent to gear up their PR machinery for the war of words surrounding deregulation. Until now they have been largely silent in public, preferring to twist the arms of chummy legislators in more private settings.

Although the typos reveal contractors to be merely one category of propagandee, the fact that they are singled out at all signifies that our industry’s message is getting across. It could be that legislators across the land are starting to sense tinges of sympathy for the underdog among their constituents.

Deregulation is under way in many states, and the EEI article makes it clear that the utility industry does not like the results of some of those preliminary matches. As more state battles get joined and a national bill draws closer, the utilities seem to be getting nervous. Deregulation is going to happen, make no mistake about that. But it looks like the rules may be more palatable to independent contractors than many may have first assumed. Keep up the pressure.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jim Olsztynski is the former editorial director of Plumbing & Mechanical.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Worker using the Milwaukee Tool SWITCH PACK drain cleaner

    Pipeline profits: Drain cleaning, pipe inspection create opportunities

    Drain cleaning and inspection services offer lucrative...
    Green Plumbing and Mechanical
    By: Nicole Krawcke
  • Uponor employee, Arturo Moreno

    The reinvestment in American manufacturing and training

    Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke and...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke and Natalie Forster
  • March 2024 Women in Plumbing hero image of woman engineer overlayed by circle of hexagon shapes with numbers from 1 to 10

    Celebrating 10 Influential Women in the Plumbing Industry

    Celebrating Women's History Month and Women in...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Plumbing & Mechanical audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Plumbing & Mechanical or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • J.J. Keller CMV vehicles on road
    Sponsored byJ. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

    The dash cam game-changer for small business safety

Popular Stories

Bath & Kitchen Pro 2025 Cover 900x550 hero image

eBook | Fifth annual Bath & Kitchen Pro

Integrate a heat pump with a boiler mounted on a brick wall.

How to integrate a heat pump with a boiler for dual temperature hydronic heating and cooling

Plumber using the DEWALT 20V MAX* Plastic Tubing Cutter to cut a white tube.

Making tough jobs easier: Most-used tools by plumbers in 2025

Nominations for Plumbing & Mechanical's NextGen ALL-Stars are now open. Submit your nomination TODAY!

Events

November 13, 2024

Future Proofing MEP: Navigating the 2026 High Efficiency Water Heating Standards

Join our deep dive into DOE’s new standards so you can future-proof your MEP practice.

EARN: 0.1 ASPE CEU; 1 AIA LU/HSW; 0.1 IACET CEU*; 1 PDH

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Will business be up or down in 2025?

Do you anticipate business in 2025 to be up or down in comparison to 2024?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Water Came To A Stop

The Water Came To A Stop

See More Products

2025 Bath & Kitchen Pro eBook

Related Articles

  • Beware of bottlenecks, Part 1

    See More
  • Beware of bottlenecks, Part 2

    See More
  • Beware Of Seasonal Drinking

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • what hydronics taught holohan.jpg

    What Hydronics Taught Holohan: A Memoir of Life in the Heating Industry

  • pocketfullsteamproblm.gif

    A Pocketful of Steam Problems (with solutions!)

See More Products
×

Keep your content unclogged with our newsletters!

Stay in the know on the latest plumbing & piping industry trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Supply House Times
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing