Overview

"The electricity business is changing so fast and so radically that what you think you know about it is probably wrong. A deep evolution is at work, never apparent in headlines or social media unless you know how the clues fit together. The old world is quietly giving way to a new one--disrupting the traditional utility culture, creating greater choices for customers, even affecting the industry's response to global warming. David J. Hurlbut brings nearly three decades of professional and academic experience to this work, including electricity market design and monitoring, renewable energy policy, and advice to other countries seeking to learn from U.S. experience. As he states at the end of the book, ""Creative destruction is rapidly bringing the world of electricity to a critical and unavoidable juncture that requires a choice: deny the inevitable, prop up failing enterprises whose time has passed, and let future generations clean up the mess; or acknowledge and adapt to the change, and find ways now to make the transition easier for all who will be affected."""

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9780692967386

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Reviews

One of the most important aspects of this book is the fact that it is written in a simple way, inspiring its readers to eagerly follow the evolution of an important industry and to look for what will happen next. By defining competition and customer choice as the main pillars of the public interest, this book speaks uniquely to a lay audience about the changing nature of the electric utility and the new responsibilities of those who will regulate it. Parviz Adib, Ph.D., first independent market monitor of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, 2000-2006

One of the most important aspects of this book is the fact that it is written in a simple way, inspiring its readers to eagerly follow the evolution of an important industry and to look for what will happen next. By defining competition and customer choice as the main pillars of the public interest, this book speaks uniquely to a lay audience about the changing nature of the electric utility and the new responsibilities of those who will regulate it.Parviz Adib, Ph.D., first independent market monitor of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, 2000-2006

"Creative Destruction and the Electric Utility of the Future by David J. Hurlbut, PhD, is an informative presentation on a critical topic. The power sector is changing and faces obsolescence (creative destruction), but not just in its technology. ""Technology is part of the story,"" Dr. Hurlbut writes, ""but the drama and the trauma are found in the socioeconomic forces that propel the transition. The utility of the future is not about technology; it's about choice and competition. It's not about the role of government going away; it's about government taking on a new role."" In lay terms and in a well-crafted narrative, aided by a sprinkling of illustrations and a couple of case studies, Dr. Hurlbut lays out the history and issues surrounding our current system, describes why it's becoming obsolete, and then addresses the future. An Afterword discusses net metering for rooftop solar and baseload generation. I read Creative Destruction and the Electric Utility of the Future with interest and recommend it to others. Dr. Hurlbut writes from a philosophical standpoint as much as an analytical one. He speaks of the inter-relatedness of power generation to other aspects of our lives and environment; he has persuaded me that cost and reliability aren't the only issues, and that the solutions won't be the same everywhere. ""This book is a call to invent new synergistic approaches,"" he urges, rather than passing the burden to future generations. ""Shifting socioeconomic undercurrents are rendering conventional thinking insufficient."" This isn't just an educational book, albeit for some it will be an eye-opening, and thought-provoking read. It's a call to action. Readers' Favorite One of the most important aspects of this book is the fact that it is written in a simple way, inspiring its readers to eagerly follow the evolution of an important industry and to look for what will happen next. By defining competition and customer choice as the main pillars of the public interest, this book speaks uniquely to a lay audience about the changing nature of the electric utility and the new responsibilities of those who will regulate it. Parviz Adib, Ph.D., first independent market monitor of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, 2000-2006"

Author Information

David J. Hurlbut is a senior analyst and economist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Prior to joining the lab in 2007 he was a senior economist at the Texas Public Utilities Commission, where he participated in the restructuring of the wholesale power market operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and oversaw implementation of the state's successful renewable portfolio standard. He holds a doctorate and a master's degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin.

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