<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A thorough industry introduction
Review: I found the book to be a good historical and political account of the electrical power utility industry. Mr. Hirsh provides an interesting account of the creation of the industry and the changes that have led to the current state of the industry (only up to 1996). A considerable amount of the book was given to the inpacts of enviromental and energy efficency groups within the industry. The book was not unduly technical in its presentation, well written, and main ideas were sumerized frequently. As a reader unfamilar with the subject, I was able to follow along well. This book has been very helpful in understanding the current events within this industry.
Rating:
Summary: A thorough industry introduction
Review: I found the book to be a good historical and political account of the electrical power utility industry. Mr. Hirsh provides an interesting account of the creation of the industry and the changes that have led to the current state of the industry (only up to 1996). A considerable amount of the book was given to the inpacts of enviromental and energy efficency groups within the industry. The book was not unduly technical in its presentation, well written, and main ideas were sumerized frequently. As a reader unfamilar with the subject, I was able to follow along well. This book has been very helpful in understanding the current events within this industry.
Rating: 
Summary: Ambitious
Review: This work has an ambitious mission, to shed light on the "power loss" of the electric utility, if you would excuse the pun - powers that be. Since the 1960s, a myriad of factors have lead to their partial downfall - allies of their own gravediggers. Power Loss suffers from three basic problems. First, it only follows events up to 1996, which is just when this industry began to really change to its very foundation. At the end of the book, restructuring is on the verge of happening in California - which is a real problem even today. Power Loss misses out on what may have been the real breakthrough in terms of the deregulation happening in California. Next, the book is both too long and too short and does not spend enough time focusing on how decisions are actually made at regulatory commissions. Lastly, from an economist's perspective, the book falls short. Economists see things from a monetary perspective and would have really liked to see more in this area. However, the linchpin of the book is really the examination of PURPA - and that makes this book worth all the money.Miguel Llora
Rating:
Summary: Ambitious
Review: This work has an ambitious mission, to shed light on the "power loss" of the electric utility, if you would excuse the pun - powers that be. Since the 1960s, a myriad of factors have lead to their partial downfall - allies of their own gravediggers. Power Loss suffers from three basic problems. First, it only follows events up to 1996, which is just when this industry began to really change to its very foundation. At the end of the book, restructuring is on the verge of happening in California - which is a real problem even today. Power Loss misses out on what may have been the real breakthrough in terms of the deregulation happening in California. Next, the book is both too long and too short and does not spend enough time focusing on how decisions are actually made at regulatory commissions. Lastly, from an economist's perspective, the book falls short. Economists see things from a monetary perspective and would have really liked to see more in this area. However, the linchpin of the book is really the examination of PURPA - and that makes this book worth all the money. Miguel Llora
<< 1 >>
| 
