There has been a surge of activity in the legislatures and public utility commissions in most of the States to examine retail competition.  Some States have moved faster than others by passing restructuring legislation and instituting retail pilot programs.  States with high electricity rates, such as California and those in the Northeast, had compelling reasons to promote competition in the hope of making lower rates available to their consumers. In fact, California, which has been the pathfinder through the unexplored world of direct retail access, will usher in full direct access for all customers beginning March 31, 1998. Currently, twelve other States (ID, IL, MA, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, and WA) have active pilot programs or direct access programs.  The map below gives a general view of the status of restructuring activities in each of the States. For more information, refer to EIA's Web site at: www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/chg_str/tab5rev.html