It has been more than 20 years since the first state in the United States deregulated its energy market, thereby allowing consumers to buy their energy from the competitive supplier of their choice instead of just from their local utility company. Today, electricity is deregulated in more than 15 states, and almost all states have natural gas deregulation. While deregulation has created opportunities for public agencies, it has also created conflicts between those who procure energy and those who manage it.