Energy has unquestionably been the subject of public intervention for a long time though its political importance dates from the first oil shock in 1973. This is particularly true in the case of Italy which, at the time depended on oil, almost all of it imported, for approximately 75% of its energy needs. Consequently, it was obvious that the risk of an energy supply shortage was a problem of paramount political importance. But with time, the attitude of Italian politicians towards this issue has changed quite substantially and the old concerns of energy policy have to some extent diminished in importance. This change corresponds with the more general evolution in the spirit of public intervention in the economy as well as the changed perceptions of the problems posed by the wider national and international events. The aim of this chapter is to explain the shift from a first long period when energy policy was based on a plan to a second recent period more relying on market mechanism. The chapter is divided in three parts. We start by providing a picture of the evolution of energy trends. In the second part we analyze the "period of National Energy Plans" (PENs) starting with the oil shock till the end of the 80's. This part is divided in two: first of all we summarize the objectives of energy policy as they have been evolving during the five official PENs and then we compare the evolution of the facts with what the official energy policy envisaged. In the last part we look at the new approaches and priorities in energy policy in the 1990s. As part of this analysis, a short examination of the recent initiatives toward privatization of energy sector will be made. Moreover we look briefly at the relationship between energy policy in Italy and in the European Union.
Italian Energy policy: from Planning to an (Imperfect) Market
DE PAOLI, LUIGI
1996
Abstract
Energy has unquestionably been the subject of public intervention for a long time though its political importance dates from the first oil shock in 1973. This is particularly true in the case of Italy which, at the time depended on oil, almost all of it imported, for approximately 75% of its energy needs. Consequently, it was obvious that the risk of an energy supply shortage was a problem of paramount political importance. But with time, the attitude of Italian politicians towards this issue has changed quite substantially and the old concerns of energy policy have to some extent diminished in importance. This change corresponds with the more general evolution in the spirit of public intervention in the economy as well as the changed perceptions of the problems posed by the wider national and international events. The aim of this chapter is to explain the shift from a first long period when energy policy was based on a plan to a second recent period more relying on market mechanism. The chapter is divided in three parts. We start by providing a picture of the evolution of energy trends. In the second part we analyze the "period of National Energy Plans" (PENs) starting with the oil shock till the end of the 80's. This part is divided in two: first of all we summarize the objectives of energy policy as they have been evolving during the five official PENs and then we compare the evolution of the facts with what the official energy policy envisaged. In the last part we look at the new approaches and priorities in energy policy in the 1990s. As part of this analysis, a short examination of the recent initiatives toward privatization of energy sector will be made. Moreover we look briefly at the relationship between energy policy in Italy and in the European Union.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.