Electricity Restructuring Issues and Policy Questions

The electricity industry is a key utility and which impacts nearly every facet of life. One major question is how best to provide and oversee the production of energy -- are free markets the answer or should the government assume the task of keeping its citizens' needs supplied? The level of electricity regulation has particular resonance in America, as witnessed by the recent catastrophe in California and the collapse of energy giant Enron. Policymakers have to balance the American tradition of capitalism with the concerns of those who view the energy industry as damaging to the environment and focused more on profits than people. Collected here is a set of papers introducing the issues influencing electric policy along with a an extensive bibliography of the book and journal literature on the subject, making this book an important resource for understanding the problems of electricity restructuring.