Ethics and Energy Deregulation

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the ethical considerations associated with the deregulation of energy, focusing on the electricity sector in the United States. The paper examines the issue from the perspective of both proponents (advantages) and critics (disadvantages) in order to attempt to ascertain if energy deregulation can be an ethical course of action.

From the Paper:

"How can we reconcile these positions? Democratic, local control of power production is certainly a noble, even ethically important, goal. But if deregulation only results in more corporate control of energy production with less public oversight, it is certainly not an ethical choice. Perhaps the most ethical and rational path would be to remove government's monopolistic control while retaining the public's capacity to oversee the energy market. If policies were put into place regulate the actions of especially the major energy producers while encouraging the development of local, alternative power generation, then it might be possible to achieve the ideals of the deregulation proponents while avoiding the dangers of corporate corruption."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Beder, Sharon. Power Play. New York: The New Press, 2003.
• Prins, Nomi. Other People's Money. New York: The New Press, 2004.
• Smeloff, Ed and Asmus, Peter. Reinventing Electric Utilities. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1997.
• Vaitheeswaran, Vijay. Power to the People. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2003.

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