Social and environmental problems attributed to current electricity sector restructuring structures are spelled out. The energy source choices and market power of large industrial and commercial users versus residential consumers are compared. An institutional analytic approach is used to reveal the best option to alleviate the social and environmental problems associated with electricity restructuring. Community aggregation emerges with great potential to achieve meaningful social and environmental improvement.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
An Act to Restructure the State’s Electric Industry. Maine Pub. L.No. 1997, c. 316, §3, Chap. 32: Electric Industry Restructuring.(1997). Available at http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/35-A/title35-Ach320sec3210.html
2.
American Local Power Project. (1996). Greening of communities offers hope for renewables and energy efficiency. Available at http://www.local.org/
3.
American Local Power Project. (1998). In California, monopoly affiliates cherry pick large customers as small customers are found “Unprofitable.” Available at http://www.local.org/
4.
American Local Power Project. (1999). A national network of communities facing electric industry deregulation. Available at http://www.local.org/
5.
Anderson, D. D. (1981). Regulatory politics and electric utilities: A case study in political economy. Westport, CT: AuburnHouse.
6.
Coyle, E. (1997, February). Green pricing won’t work. AmericanLocal Power Project. Available at http://www.local.org/coyle.html
7.
Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy. (1998). Available at http://www-solar.mck.ncsu.edu/
8.
Energy Information Administration. (1997). Changing structure of the electric power industry: An update. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy. Available at http://www.eia.doe.%20gov/cneaf/electricity/chg_str/chapter5%20html
9.
Energy Information Administration. (1998). Changing structure of the electric power industry: Selected issues, 1998. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy.
10.
Energy Information Administration. (1999a). Status of state electric utility deregulation activity as of May 1, 1999. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy. Available at http://www.eia.%20doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/chg_str/tab5rev.html
11.
Energy Information Administration. (1999b). U.S. electric utility average revenue per kilowatt hour by sector. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy. Available at http://www.eia.doe.%20gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/epmt52.txt
12.
Guinn, C. R. (1996). Consequences of electricity industry restructuring on efficiency and renewable resources. Unpublished manuscript, National Association of State Energy Officials, Alexandria, VA.
13.
Hoffman, S. M. (1998, October). Energy-Efficiency and renewable energy in a restructured electric system: A white paper. Unpublished manuscript, Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
14.
International Energy Agency. (1998). Key world energy statistics, retail prices in selected countries. Paris: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Available at http://%20www.iea.org/stats/files/keystats/stats_98.htm
15.
Mumford, L. (1970). The pentagon of power. New York: Oxford University Press.
16.
Peretz, B. A. (1998a). Municipal aggregation: A community response to emerging competitive opportunities (Remarks to energy deregulation meeting for Manchester Township, New Jersey. February 3, 1998). Available at http://www.local.org/
17.
Peretz, B. (1998b, February). Protecting energy affordability for low income customers in a changing market. In Principles for protecting low income customers in electric and gas industry restructuring. Panel presentation at the National Consumer Law Center Conference. Available at http://www.local.org/
18.
Rader, N. (1998, October). Green buyers beware: A critical review of “green electricity” products. Public Citizen. Washington, DC.
19.
Ridley, S. (1998). Guest opinion: Community choice and municipal aggregation, American Local Power Project. Available at http://www.local.org/
20.
Rudolph, R., & Ridley, S. (1986). Power struggle: The hundred-year war over electricity. New York: Harper & Row.
21.
Smith, K. J. (1996, April). Electricity pricing trends challenge conventional wisdom on retail wheeling. Electricity Journal, 84-86.
22.
Stuntz, L. G. (1995, Winter). Current shock: Competition in electricity service. Resources, 123, 2-4.
23.
Young, O. R. (1994). International governance: Protecting the environment in a stateless society. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
