Date of Award
5-2017
Degree Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Dual Degree Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy (MBA/ESP)
Department
Graduate School of Management
Chief Instructor
Will O'Brien
Second Reader
Timothy Downs
Third Reader
Alistair Pim
Keywords
Energy, Death Spiral, Energiewende, Utility, Renewable Energy, DER, Renewable, Solar
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to present evidence that the United States is entering a "Utility Death Spiral" - a dramatic shift away from the utility based model of electricity supply to consumers. It also explores how U.S utilities can reposition themselves to best mitigate the economic losses associated with a Death Spiral. A Utility Death Spiral is currently taking place in Germany called the "Energiewende" and it is having immediate impacts on its energy landscape. The case study of the Energiewende is presented, its impacts, and the response taken by the country’s “big four” utility companies. After analyzing the German utilities, recommendations are made that inform how U.S. utilities should organize to mitigate potential impacts of a Death Spiral here in the U.S.
Recommended Citation
Hopf, Eric W.; O'Brien, Will; Downs, Timothy; and Pim, Alistair, "Mitigating an Energy Utility Death Spiral in the United States: Applying Lessons from Germany" (2017). International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE). 129.
https://commons.clarku.edu/idce_masters_papers/129
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