Customer Reviews

Understanding Electric Utilities and De-Regulation (Power Engineering Willis)

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Although rather pricey. I thought this book was worth it. It is a very good layman's introduction to the electric power industry, power systems, and electric industry de-regulation. I found it particularly easy to read and the authors manage to make the material interesting and to keep the reading lively. The book appears to be quite objective -- in particular it goes into all the alternatives of the many steps in de-regulation, and reviews all sides of various issues and arguments about electric policy and de-regulation.

The first six chapters are tutorials on different aspects of the power industry, including its business structure and operation, electricity and how it is made, generation, transmission and distribution systems, etc. These were a big help to someone like me who does not have a background in electric power, and are a good "standby" in case I need to know more in the future. The second half of the book is a very thorough discussion of the why, what and how of de-regulation in the electric industry. The book provides a uniquely comprehensive yet accessible explanation of the reasons for and process of de-regulation, as well as the various types of de-regulated structures. It has a good number of tables and lists, and some really nice, explanatory drawings in the tutorial sections. There is a particularly lengthy glossary and a very thorough index, both of which make it a good reference book.