Crisis Management in the Power Industry: An inside story

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This book is a study of crisis management in the electricity supply industry over the last seventy years. The full implications of the vulnerability of the industry are examined, with special reference to past industrial action. Few people know how close the industry has come on more than one occasion to disaster. At the time of the 1984-5 miners' strike, and for some years afterwards, there were strong tactical reasons for keeping quiet about the dangers to electricity supply and the strategies for overcoming them. However, since the electricity supply industry has changed its structure through privatisation in ways which would make any future crisis significantly different, there is no reason to hold back a story of such great public interest and importance.
The industry's responses demonstrate crisis management at its most demanding. In the wake of privatisation, challenging and controversial questions are asked, which are of fundamental importance to the economy, quality of life and political stability of the country. An account is also given of the past and present structure, technology and industrial relations of the industry.
This book is of interest both to the general public and to those concerned with the energy industries both at home and world-wide. It is also a first-class case study for students of post war politics, public sector management and industrial relations.