Praise for Lights Out
"Lights Out is a fast paced, no-holds-barred account of what is wrong in our electricity sector and how we might get it back on track, written by someone who has been in the business long enough to know what he is writing about."
-Leonard Hyman, author of America's Electric Utilities: Past, Present, and Future
"Jason Makansi gives us a succinct, insightful view of recent electricity problems. His lively, provocative writing explains the mysteries of the technology, the politics, the regulation, and the market manipulation. Parts of the book may make you mad, but you won't be able to put it down and you will always be learning something."
-Lester Lave, PhD, Professor of Economics and Codirector, Electricity Industry Center, Carnegie Mellon University
"This new work is provocative, factual, and will make you think about the situation we face. It is a must-read for anyone even slightly interested in the adequacy of the U.S. power sector and what the future may hold. Industry, regulatory, and political leaders need to read this to see the possible end results of their decisions."
-Barry Worthington, Executive Director, United States Energy Association
"Jason Makansi's long history in the electricity business has given him keen insights into the inner workings of the utility industry, and his examples and illustrations, based on his personal attempts at demand side management at home with his family, give a lighter background to what is a profound and sometimes alarming thesis."
-Geoffrey R. Egan, PhD, President, APTECH Engineering Services, Inc.
"This book enables even the novice to understand clearly the multifaceted issues facing an electricity-thirsty world. This book lays the foundation for understanding how complex power generation and delivery truly is, and is a clarion call to citizens and consumers worldwide alike to become more informed and more involved."
-Timothy McCreary, President, HF Controls
"This thoroughly researched and well-documented discourse explores the litany of issues plaguing the energy industry today. Lights Out will challenge your critical thinking skills and may cause you to question your position on the issues. More importantly, Lights Out proposes realistic solutions that even our elected representatives can comprehend and should seriously consider."
-Dr. Robert V. Peltier, PE, Editor in Chief, Power magazine

Makansi (president, Pearl Street Inc., a consulting company "focused on all aspects of electricity production and delivery") provides the general reader with a portrait of the electricity industry, addressing the connection of American utilities to the global economy, issues of failing infrastructure, the contribution of electricity production to global warming, and other interconnected issues. He also offers prescriptions to fix the failed deregulation of the 1980s and 1990s, which he blames for the current decrepit state of the transmission grid. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

A behind-the-scenes exposure why our electricity system is headed for a state of emergency-and what can be done to head it off

Most people don't realize that skyrocketing global energy demand and economic growth severely affect the supply of electricity. Between production (power plants) and delivery is an antiquated, third-world transmission grid that is in desperate need of hardening against breakdowns, terrorist attacks, inadequate carrying capacity, and operational obsolescence. And while electricity doesn't hold the headlines or dramatic power of oil, the ability to ensure its uninterrupted supply at a reasonable price is even more essential to global survival and prosperity. Lights Out is today's most detailed, in-depth examination of this largely unreported looming energy crisis. Written by one of the world's top electricity industry experts, this powerful book covers numerous hot button economic and political issues-free markets versus regulation; energy independence versus foreign imports; nuclear power, global warming, and other environmental issues; and much more. Beyond just uncovering and illuminating the problems, however, it proposes a comprehensive road map of technical solutions and regulatory reform from both the production and demand sides of the equation-a framework for rethinking, rebuilding, and enhancing the entire electricity production and delivery infrastructure. Prescriptive and provocative, Lights Out will redefine the simmering debate on how the world can-and must-act now to head off a global catastrophe, one that could eventually wreak even more havoc than the ongoing oil crisis.

Jason Makansi is the President of Pearl Street, Inc., a consultingfirm; Principal of PS Liquidity Advisors, an advisory service for energy technology companies raising capital; and Executive Director of the Energy Storage Council, a public-policy advocacy organization. A prolific author, respected industry thought leader, and seasoned communicator, Mr. Makansi has been analyzing the technological, business, and regulatory issues in electricity production and delivery for over twenty-five years. He earned a BS in chemical engineering from Columbia University. His earlier books include An Investor's Guide to the Electricity Economy, also published by John Wiley & Sons, and Managing Steam: An Engineering Guide to Commercial, Industrial, and Utility Systems.

A nightmarish vision of blackouts, brownouts, and higher electricity costs is looming as a result of a variety of forces impacting the electrical power industry.  Much like oil, electricity supply is not increasing rapidly enough to meet rising demand. Compounding this problem, is a “ third world transmission grid” that is vulnerable to breakdowns and terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, the electricity industry is “ fighting the last war” instead of preparing for the next one by placating environmentalists with meaningless wind and solar projects; building more coal and nuclear plants; and importing more liquefied natural gas.    The net affect of these initiatives will be to leave us more vulnerable to external supply disruptions, terrorist attacks, and pricing disparities.  For consumers, this could mean extended blackouts, brownouts, energy rationing, and higher electricity prices. To avoid this nightmarish scenario, the industry needs to rebuild the electrical transmission network, expand natural gas pipeline capacity, and begin to build facilities to store electricity.  In addition, the industry needs to begin to “ manage demand” by offering users – both commercial users and consumers – a wider range of service options so that price differentials could be used to control aggregate usage through the course of a day.  But without significant change and reform, the industry – and those it serves – are heading into a perilous future.  (See proposal and TOC)