Since the mid-seventies, electric utilities were faced with escalating construction costs, growing environmental plus siting constraints and increasing uncertainty in demand forecasting. To cope with the increasing demand for energy services, utilities can either invest in supply-side options (new generation, transmission and distribution facilities) or in demand-side options. Demand-side options include, policies, programmes, innovative pricing schemes and high-efficiency end-use equipment (equipment providing the same or better level of services but using less energy or peak power). Recent...