Title: From state agendas to private competitors: the impact on industries

Authors: Angelo Camplani

Addresses: Deputy Director, Planning and Strategies Div., ENEL Spa, Via G.B. Martini 3, 00189 Rome, Italy

Abstract: Changes in the electricity sectors of advanced countries are driven more by political forces than by the market. This paper argues that two sets of determinants are directing the change: long-term trends (greater market discipline; growing environmental pressures; electricity demand declining in growth in OECD countries and unsatisfied in the others); local conditions and issues, an outcome of past and current energy and social policies. Greater competition, a new culture of risk, rethinking the scope and range of enterprise actions, and refocusing of research are some of the impacts that are common in the EU-15 area. Privatisation, unbundling of generation, transmission, distribution and supply, and downsizing are more Member State specific. Overall, choice of the most appropriate solutions is crucial and requires consideration, on one side, of the implications of the special non-commodity nature of electricity and, on the other side, of energy policy. In connection to the second, in the current more competitive and enlarged European environment, a quantum leap similar to the one of the single currency is needed for fostering |Energy Europe|. This implies, before any EU Treaty revision, a convergent and strong political will.

Keywords: electricity industry; energy policy; privatisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1995.063465

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1995 Vol.7 No.1/2, pp.8-12

Published online: 15 Jul 2014 *

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