The Increasing Significance of Electricity: Strategic Implications for Energy Planning

This paper examines the fundamental changes that have taken place in the U.S. energy-economic relationships over the past decade. Special attention is focused on one particular form of energy, namely electricity. It is argued that the generally accepted prognosis for sluggish primary energy growth over the next two decades does not necessarily apply to electricity. The factors behind this dichotomy are examined and their implications discussed.