ISEN 409 - Energy and Sustainability Market Foundations
Core/Elective: Core Elective*
Credits: 0.5 (*ISEN 407 is paired with either ISEN 408 or ISEN 409)
Quarter Taught: Fall
Synopsis:
Exploration of how the tools of economic analysis apply to discrete decision-making in electricity, gas, water, and transportation.
Course Objectives:
- Understand how market outcomes have many benefits but also some costs
- Understand the possible benefits and drawbacks of government regulation
- Understand varied ownership structures and economics for “utilities” (IOU, Muni, Co-op) and how this can influence decision making
- Develop analytical capabilities to compare and contrast substitutes (e.g. energy sources)
- Learn different rate structures and how they provide incentives or disincentives for investment and production
- Consider the short-term vs. long-term impacts of resource investment and production, and how different economic agents may behave differently under the same conditions
- Be able to identify market characteristics that are unique to specific resources