What's to misunderstand?? Regulation determined how much and how many charges would be made to the customer. Deregulation did just what the name says. They are in business, and it's not free anymore.
You've got to consider what it costs to do the job. (In CA you would probably get 2 men and a boomtruck). They've got to drive there. If they disconnect and reconnect that's 2 trips. Most contractors would charge just as much, if not more, to do this service.