Electric Stories Contributions to the history of electricity in Sweden Collected papers by Mats Bladh Published by Linköping University Electronic Press, 2011 ISBN: 978‐91‐7393‐078‐9 URL: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva‐70080 Cover Photo: Aatu Liimatta © The Author Content About Collected Papers ............................................................................................. 5 About the author ....................................................................................................... 6 “Momentum” In the Swedish Electricity Industry ..................................................... 7 Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Four beginnings .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Utilities ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Industrial firms ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Power companies ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Distribution cooperatives ................................................................................................................................... 11 The inner dynamics of the electricity system ............................................................................................. 12 “Momentum” reconsidered ..................................................................................................................................12 The case of Sweden ................................................................................................................................................ 14 Distribution cost ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 Coping with variations ......................................................................................................................................... 20 Deregulation .............................................................................................................................................................. 26 Concluding discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 27 Basic assumptions .................................................................................................................................................. 29 Appendix: Hughes’ 18 definitions of “momentum” .................................................................................. 30 A. Origin, establishment and diffusion of technology ............................................................................. 30 B. Technological enthusiasm ............................................................................................................................. 32 C. The system’s influence on the environment ........................................................................................... 32 D. The environment initiating and supporting momentum. ................................................................ 33 E. The environment as an obstacle for the momentum of the system ............................................. 33 References .................................................................................................................................................................. 34 System and Environment: From Harmony to Conflict ............................................. 37 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 37 System growth in Sweden ................................................................................................................................... 39 Capacity growth in Sweden ................................................................................................................................ 41 The birth of resistance to capacity growth .................................................................................................. 43 Nuclear power versus CHP and the environment .................................................................................... 45 Discussing Hughes’ theory: Change and boundaries of LTS ................................................................ 48 What is momentum? ............................................................................................................................................. 49 Momentum of a socio‐technical system ........................................................................................................ 50 Coping with variations .......................................................................................................................................... 51 Concluding discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 52 References .................................................................................................................................................................. 54 Implementing the Utopian Consumer: “Deregulating” Electricity in Sweden ......... 57 Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 57 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 57 Neoclassical institutions? .................................................................................................................................... 57 A solution without a problem? .......................................................................................................................... 58 The actual consumers ........................................................................................................................................... 60 Concluding discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 65 Epilogue ...................................................................................................................................................................... 67 Sources ........................................................................................................................................................................ 68 References .................................................................................................................................................................. 69 Institutionalizing Theory .......................................................................................... 70 The relation between academic theory and political economy .......................................................... 70 Implementing marginal cost pricing .............................................................................................................. 73 Coping with variations ......................................................................................................................................... 73 Origins of MCP ......................................................................................................................................................... 75 Interview with Lennart Hjalmarsson ............................................................................................................ 75 Milestones on the road to deregulation ........................................................................................................ 78 Consequences of neoclassical institutionalization ................................................................................... 79 References .................................................................................................................................................................. 81 Energy Efficiency and Counteracting Tendencies .................................................... 83 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................................... 83 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 83 Background ..............................................................................................................................................................