Electricity Today T&D Magazine

The generation of electric power and the infrastructure that delivers it is in the midst of dramatic and rapid change. Declining renewable energy costs, stringent emissions standards, low-price natural gas, competitive electricity markets, and a host of technological innovations have forever changed the landscape of an industry that has remained static for decades.

Heightened awareness of newfound options available to consumers has injected yet another element to the policy debate surrounding these transformative changes, moving it beyond utility boardrooms and legislative hearing rooms to everyday living rooms.

The Full Cost of Electricity employs a holistic approach to thoroughly examine the key factors affecting the total system cost of generating and delivering electricity. The multi-disciplinary project synthesizes the expert analysis and different perspectives of faculty across the UT Austin campus, from engineering, economics, law, and policy.

The study identifies and quantifies direct and indirect costs associated with both traditional and emergent...