Apr 1999

From the landlocked country whose electricity industry has everything - high prices, stranded costs, alliances, malicious rivalry dividing supposedly co-operative utilities, and scrutiny from Brussels, to boot - comes the realisation that all is not well in the State of Austria. As the trade barriers fall to aggressive outside competition, could Austria be nothing more than easy prey?

Exactly a year remains before the implementation of the Review of Electricity Trading Arrangements (RETA) in England and Wales. Now a new report attempts to answer the vexing question: Is the industry ready for RETA? by Dr Eamon Delaney Hi-Q Systems.

With the current focus on sustainable energy and lifestyles, the concept of Energy from Waste is becoming an increasingly important option for UK waste management, representing a practical way of generating renewable or "green" energy while helping reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites. The newest plants even make good use of the ash produced by incineration, sending it to be used as aggregate in road building and other constructive uses.

As markets in Europe accelerate towards liberalisation and consolidation, power indices will become an increasingly important risk management tool

Industry is divided into three categories: those that are ready for Year 2000; those that are confident they will be; and those putting on a brave face Chris Webb Editor, Power Economics