Energy touches many facets of life ? politics, economics, health, perhaps our very survival. It is therefore vital in a democratic society that energy be governed in a democratic way.
Democratic governance is possible whether energy utilities are investor-owned, municipally-owned, or state-owned. Democratic governance is possible whether the market structure is monopoly or liberalized. The key is democratic regulation. The authors will spell out the five elements required. Democratic regulation can resolve such difficult conflicts as those between short-term and long-term concerns, and between economic and non-economic interests. Environmental sustainability is possible as long as there are democratic governance structures to reconcile the apparent conflict between price and sustainability and to develop long-term mandates for renewables and energy efficiency.
There are many structures that can accomplish democratic regulation. One is Citizens Utility Boards, groups of citizens with a mandated ?seat at the table? from which they advocate for citizen interests before an independent democratic regulator.
