America is restructuring its electricity supply business on the hoof. At the end of March, California is scheduled to open its entire market to all comers: altogether 46 states have similar plans. Canada is well on its way. Japan has taken halting steps for independent power producers, cautiously intruding on to the turf of the nine regional utilities. Even the EU has caught on, with its modest proposal to open 33% of the market by 2003.