Reforming the regulation of electric utilities: priorities for the 1980s

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6145869

Gordon, R L

This book attempts to suggest the magnitude of the difficulties facing the electric power industry - from the cost/investment issue to the number of actors involved - and to stimulate efforts to resolve the problems. The bias of this book is toward accepting uncertainties and adapting to them rather than attempting to determine a complete solution for problems whose true dimensions will not become clear for many years. This outlook produces a discouraging view of the electric-power situation. Economists specializing in the study of regulated industries suggest that too much control is exerted. However, it may be exceedingly difficult to produce greater freedom for private firms. Current movements to lessen regulation appear to be quite timid. Resistance to reform is considerable. To complicate matters further, there is much strong justification for regulation, particularly in the environmental realm. Thus, there are severe limits to freeing the electric-power industry from regulation. A principal conclusion of this book is that reforms must be very comprehensive to guarantee an efficient electric-power industry. To enact such reforms, policymakers must be encouraged to delineate and debate measures that range as broadly as possible. A comprehensive program of deregulation should be considered.

• OSTI ID: 6145869
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
296000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
DEREGULATION
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
POWER GENERATION
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGULATIONS