The electric power industry was created by entrepreneurs in the 1880s, and it wasn’t until the 1930s that the government entered the industry. Until the deregulation era of the 1990s, private utilities were heavily regulated. As a result of the spectacular failures of deregulation, the concept of public ownership of utilities is taking off again. In fact, the ability to develop decentralized community-owned electricity is critical for the transition to 100% renewable energy needed today.