Ethics adn the regulation and deregulation of energy Essay

Ethics adn the regulation and deregulation of energy - Essay Example In the United States, the electrical and natural gas industries have found themselves undergoing developments of change in the way they supply their resources. Millions of households and businesses within the 24 different States which have enacted deregulation plans find themselves torn in two from what is the falling of the $220 billion electricity industry; that being one of the last government sanctioned monopolies. The deregulation of both markets has applied extreme pressure on both industries to act more efficiently.This drive in efficiency has then directly impacted more of a commitment from the two industries to establish further safety procedures and increased attention to ethical standards. In theory the deregulation of the markets should expand services further, creating more selection which in return directly opens up the market for competition. This in theory should create lower prices and of course a wider selection which will ultimately allow those of lower incomes to comfortably afford hydro and natural gas. These benefits have deregulation supports quite touted as they appear very certain that it will generally create greater occurrences. In some regions this plan has been a success however in most cases the results have been the opposite with an actual rise in prices with accounts of crisis in supply.Prior to the infamous electricity shortages and skyrocketing prices, California went through an uprising provided by the citizens to halt and overturn the states deregulation plan. deregulation plan. In 1996 California became one of the first states to enact what was a restructuring plan of electricity and natural gas. No later then two years after the plan was put into effect public support of deregulation began to sway due to actual increases in pricing. This measure obviously failed and criticism of deregulation grew further to a one sided opinion from the public. The limited power supplies and astounding increases in demand forced the electrical industry to further up the retail prices on power. In some cases companies that provide retail prices based on wholesale value fluctuated dramatically, electrical bills were noted to be double then what they were before the plan started. This equalled not only outrage by the public but also examples that deregulations were not consistent with its theory. A good example success from deregulation comes from the analysis of the post deregulation era in Pennsylvania. The enactment of the plan started in 1998, which appears to have uplifting reviews. The state has been in blossom according to reports that conclude great success on many accounts. The analysis shows that 500,000 consumers being just over 11 percent of ratepayers have chosen to leave their current utility companies no more then a year after the plan enacted. The trial in the Philadelphia area concurs with this, concluding that residential consumers who decided to leave their electricity providers for one that was least expensive in competition saved on average $10.00 a month. Ethnically speaking, those who are of the lower income brackets have been able hopefully to sustain hydro more easily then before the plans enactment in Pennsylvania. Whether or not the benefits such as lower prices can be consistent throughout the nation is still however an unresolved question. California is a great example of the opposite because the outcome of California deregulating electricity markets is substantially different then that of Pennsylvania state. After some of the main providers experienced financial crisis, consumers were faced with rising prices beyond affordability, many ended up having to go without any source of power and those who could continue to afford the up roaring prices experienced shortages of electricity due to the overwhelming increase in demands. Although deregulation shows ethical value it also proves to be inconsistent. The

Global Development Politics Policy Brief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global Development Politics Policy Brief - Essay Example How can the international society continue to maintain sustainable development of its population without inducing further effects of climate change? This question continues to remain a nightmare to experts in environment and economist, alike. Experts mandated to ensure practical climate change policies face this similar challenge. The policy options identified, discussed and proposed include applying costs and benefits analysis exhibition to the public. This, in turn, would inform the public on the effects of climate change on health and environment including the economy. Analysis and exhibition of climate change effects would evoke initiatives for early mitigation of climate change among the population. The second proposal is to ensure reduced level of emissions, on a global scale, would help address climate change. These include agreement on acceptable amount emitted by countries (Posner & Weisbach 2010, p.3). The third proposal is to find means that would change the human behavior and help reduce human causes of this global environmental threat. To sustain the ever-escalating human population growth rate and the ability to support their demands for natural resources, without inducing climate change-causing processes, we recommend initiatives that would correct human norms and behavior to control development. Situation brief Why should the world address climate change? The apparent pursuit to implement sustainable development raises concerns on the necessity to have a succinct policy regulation that control developmental effects. World organizations including institutions sets up by the United Nations face the challenge of ensuring developments that guarantee an uncompromised future. Climate change is among the major challenges that are at the focus of issues that call for redress and attention from the world community, through a united approach. Most conventions and treaties set by international bodies, since the 1972 meeting at Stockholm have climate change as one of the priority challenges. The scope of climate change implications on diverse sectors including the economy, food production and health makes it a grim issue that is better when addressed than left to escalate. Noteworthy is the concern that climate change implications are not region-specific but a matter that is all-inclusive of the entire world society. Scientists point at an alarming change in world temperatures and an anticipation of potential increase in ice melt rate. What are the challenges to existing climate change control policies? Existing policy initiatives to control the rate of emission have little, so to say, effectiveness. The policy frameworks available to suppress over emission from development activities, in developed countries especially, have failed. The carbon credit initiatives tend to assure the world population of insignificant influence and effects. Climate finance is another unsuccessful idea that has least impact in controlling climate change. T he current situation calls for a workable framework that would leave the world population staying in a clean atmosphere that is free of contamination and related effects. The high extent of uncertainty in predicting possible impacts of the alteration of world climatic conditions is the key threat to existing policies. Policy discussion Climate change economists