Allowing these customers to bypass their local utility is considered a small price to pay to retain a major employer.

These companies let customers bypass retailers.

After a five-year effort to allow customers to bypass their local utilities and buy power directly from other sources, California became the first state to do so yesterday.

Some customers bypass the humdrum-looking baklava and honey cakes ($1.75 each).

Avon's new "800" number, which allows customers to bypass the Avon Lady to buy direct, has added incremental sales.

Under the concept, which is being considered by many states, big industrial customers could bypass the local utility to buy lower-cost power from utilities in other areas or states.

The Fly-By was completed in 2006 and allows customers to bypass the signals if continuing on E-470.

What is more, some customers are bypassing their local pharmacies for other over-the-counter products that are cheaper elsewhere.

A complex system that allows customers to bypass their local utilities and buy power directly from other sources functioned flawlessly.