SYSTEM DYNAMICS AND THE ELECTRIC-POWER INDUSTRY

System dynamics has been used extensively to aid in resource planning in the electric power industry. The many applications constitute a maj or body of work that has proven useful-to large and small power compan ies as well as to government agencies at the local, state and federal level. The work has been performed by utility analysts, government pla nners, consultants and academics. One of my recent publications on ele ctric power was honored with the 1996 Tay Wright Forrester Award. This article documents the major points in my award address to the 1996 In ternational System Dynamics Conference. It summarizes the impressive b ody of work that system dynamics practitioners have accumulated over t he past several decades. It gives my interpretation of the important a nd unique features of the system dynamics approach. I argue also that we have contributed to useful change in the electric industry. (C) 199 7 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.