ABSTRACT
Autoproduction of electricity declined as a percentage of total generation primarily because of the economies of scale resulting from the development of large central power stations. In the United States, for instance, autoproduction had accounted for almost two-thirds of generating capacity in 1900 and by 1973 amounted to only 4.2%. This same dramatic decline was witnessed in the industries of other Western countries. However, recent years have seen a renewed interest on the part of many Governments in alternative power production because of an increasing governmental concern with energy conservation, energy efficiency and security of supply. This governmental interest has been reflected in a determination in some countries to remove whatever obstacles have existed as impediments to the development of cogeneration and alternative power sources. Essentially, the obstacles have related to the legal difficulty of selling independently produced power and to the obstructionist attitude of the utilities themselves. In a number of European Community countries there is considerable government interest in encouraging autoproduction. Britain, the Netherlands and Spain are outstanding examples. But, of course, such interest extends far beyond European Community countries. This paper reviews the legal situation in a number of non-EEC industrialised countries: the United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
