Preface + z; ^# W: {( @1 c" o4 m* p# A- b* D& d. u" n" H
Prior to the 1970s, the U.S. electric power industry was technology driven. & @1 h% X7 | N, c; x. U" W k, s4 nEngineers were trained to focus on specific technologies and work in spe- 4 f: X: q% x+ {2 Y' O" g$ `4 `% Z+ T( S
cialized areas. However, dramatic changes began taking place in the 1970s, / k+ I* [* G9 s0 K* _. d$ uand an “energy crisis” ushered in a new era of tighter regulation. / H* D5 D1 T5 s) E" M2 |
By the early 1990s, two decades of intense regulation were replaced by 6 y5 ], Q6 f1 va new policy of promoting open access and competition. The Energy Policy $ i2 z; K! j1 g. [" |Act of 1992, followed by several significant Notices of Proposed Rulemakings $ n8 ]) ?5 }; O& V1 n- ^! J3 m5 C
and Orders from the U.S. Federal Energy Commission, required utilities to 2 G6 o- r& N c& J' x4 ?% O6 Hcompete for markets that were previously guaranteed. As a consequence, . f" [/ P, }8 Z) P( j) d- uthere were many mergers and acquisitions. Marketers with little or no power & O/ I7 D, }8 J) e4 s6 gindustry experience moved into positions of influence. Engineering organi- 4 h+ F# @4 E6 ~ I6 F# d
zations were downsized, and the engineers who were left behind had to find , ^3 {8 o' t, R
ways to prevent power systems from becoming less reliable. # L/ g& i A H8 c
Today the transition in industry structure is nearly complete. The U.S. 4 G; I& b, p8 m5 M8 helectric power industry is no longer technology driven. It is public policy 2 `5 T/ u7 k8 s. ?" `
and market driven. Just as utility companies have to change to survive in : |& n4 F$ T/ R7 ~" Uthe new competitive environment, engineers who choose to work in the + O/ c; _, Y5 G& L nindustry must learn a new set of skills and accommodate new disciplines. - m0 o8 K7 e$ H
This book is intended to help educate new engineers for the new business ! [. o1 q' w9 F3 P+ t- x3 q
environment. We explain how new methods for power systems operations 1 _; E2 x f/ i; E9 M0 r7 {9 j; K3 s& Sand energy marketing relate to public policy, regulation, economics, and ) o' p6 @; j4 m. I+ V2 K! H! n& ] Hengineering science. This book can serve as a textbook for an undergraduate % u7 x% S0 H1 X0 v, Z# U8 d3 \elective course for engineering students. Alternatively, it can be used for the 4 r8 j+ c6 D* |' H. }# y$ xcontinuing education of industrial power engineers and energy industry ! z& J0 L/ z+ x! O
employees. ! }! g; p0 r: L* ?& f; V1 F6 _
1 u, e* O9 v6 D& g& C2 [- E
(C) 2002 by CRC Press LLC