LEADING THE WAY ON FAIR PAY

North Rhine Westfalia has introduced a scheme which makes it possible for the utilities to raise consumer electricity prices to pay for renewable energy. It is suggested that the increase be spread across both tariff and industrial customers. In negotiating prices with industrial customers, however, the utilities have no legitimate guidelines on passing on the costs of environmental protection. This could mean the utilities will have to pay the extra cost themselves.

1 December 1994