2004

PA survey finds that US generating companies expect mandatory carbon dioxide regulations within 10 years - 22 October 2004

PA Consulting Group survey shows a substantial portion of the US power industry surveyed believes that climate change is both an environmental and a political problem

A national environmental survey of electric generating companies in the US, conducted by PA Consulting Group, shows that nearly 60 percent of the respondents believe that Congress will enact mandatory limits on carbon dioxide emissions within the next 10 years.  Roughly half the respondents believe mandatory limits will come within five years.  Respondents represented companies that generate roughly 30 percent of US electricity.

The survey – titled ‘Environmental survey 2004’ -  also shows that:

• survey respondents overwhelmingly believe that greenhouse gas build-up is a political problem
• nearly half of all respondents see greenhouse gas build-up as a scientific problem
• less than half of responding companies are incorporating emission limits on CO2 into business planning, due to ongoing regulatory uncertainty.

According to the survey, companies need to start focusing now on how CO2 emissions constraints will affect their businesses. The upcoming election adds to the uncertainty about future regulations because survey respondents see dramatic policy differences resulting from whoever wins the White House.

PA is the leading adviser on energy issues in the US and regularly advises major energy companies on planning and operations. This survey was conducted in part to allow companies to benchmark themselves on environmental issues against their peer organizations.

In addition to greenhouse gas issues, the survey also includes findings related to cap and trade programs, mercury regulation, compliance planning, and anticipated impacts of the upcoming presidential election on environmental regulation.

To learn more about the survey or to obtain the full survey results, please contact PA directly or through its Web site at www.paconsulting.com

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Bergin 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington 20006 United States Tel: + 1 202 442 2741 E-mail: sarah.bergin@paconsulting.com

Notes to editors

Survey methodology

PA conducted its survey of electric power generators during the first half of 2004 and surveyed senior managers involved in developing and/or implementing environmental policies. The 19 companies that participated in the survey accounted for 29% of the US's electric power generation in 2003. The participants included large and small investor-owned utilities, non-regulated generators, and co-operatives. 

About PA Consulting Group

PA Consulting Group is a leading management, systems and technology consulting firm. Operating worldwide in more than 35 countries, PA draws on the knowledge and experience of 3,000 people, whose skills span the initial generation of ideas and insights all the way through to detailed implementation.

PA builds and implements strategies for the creation and capture of shareholder and customer value. We help accelerate business growth by developing innovative products for our clients and by the application of emerging technology. We deliver major transformation programs, mobilize human resources and manage complex IT and technically-challenging programs.

PA focuses on creating benefits for clients rather than merely proposing them, and our results-focused approach is founded on a unique commitment to excellence, independence and value:

Excellence. We are committed to unremitting excellence and quality in every aspect of our work: in our relationships with our clients, in the client assignments we deliver and in the people we recruit and develop, who enjoy exciting and rewarding careers at PA.

Independence. PA is totally independent from outsourcing, software, hardware and audit providers. We are the pre-eminent client-side advisor on IT and outsourcing projects and deliver, in partnership with our clients, business solutions tailored to our clients’ needs, rather than solutions predetermined by commercial alliances. As an employee-owned company, we are answerable to our clients and to ourselves only.

Value. PA’s consultants bring an intense focus on delivering value through deep industry insight, the development and application of technology and our culture of respect, collaboration and flexibility in working with clients.

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