Alternating Currents: Electricity Markets and Public Policy - Softcover

Brennan, Timothy J.; Palmer, Karen L.; Martinez, Salvador A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1891853074 ISBN 13: 9781891853074

Publisher: Routledge, 2002

Synopsis

Many states within the U.S., and many countries across the world, are opening their electicity markets to competition. Many others are uncertain about their plans. These differences emphasize the complexities involved in the technology and regulatory structure of the electricity industry--an industry for which the introduction of market competition has been notoriously difficult. In response to these challenges, Alternating Currents provides a timely overview and analysis of the concerns facing industry regulators, legislators, and others as they consider whether, when, and how to open electricity markets. Authors Brennan, Palmer, and Martinez offer background on the history of regulatory policy and the technology for producing and delivering electric power. They then provide insights into the policy debates and economic issues involved in eleven important topics, including industry structure, system integrity and reliability, the mitigation of market power, and environmental protection. Alternating Currents describes the recent events leading to the demise of retail competition in California with the intent on drawing lessons for the future. In the end, the authors offer their perspective about what makes electricity a unique resource and how those factors make the potential conflict between competition and reliability the most pressing of the long-term concerns about the transformation of the electric power industry.

About this title

Review:

'An even better primer than Shock . . . excellent, balanced description of California Energy crisis. The best available introduction to electricity marketing restructuring.' Regulation 'This book belongs on the shelf of any stakeholder in the restructuring debate - and every journalist who reports on it.' Electricity Daily

Synopsis:

Many US states, as well as many countries, are opening their electric power markets to competition. Others, in response to the crisis in California, have ruled out competition. This book provides an overview of the major issues facing industry regulators, legislators and others as they consider whether, when, and how to open electricity markets. The authors begin with background on the electric power industry, including the technology for producing and delivering power, the history of regulatory policy and an analysis of recent experiences with restructuring. They then provide insights into the policy debates and economic issues, including industry structure, future regulation, system integrity and reliability, the mitigation of market power and environmental protection. The book describes the recent events leading to the demise of retail competition in California in order to extract lessons for future attempts at deregulation. It offers perspectives on what makes electricity a unique resource and what makes the potential conflict between competition and reliability the most pressing of the long-term concerns for the electricity industry.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1891853074
• ISBN 13: 9781891853074
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 210