The Social Context of Energy Systems

When compared to many other western countries the development of the Swedish energy system has been characterized by a strong interrelation between the development and organization of the public sector and the development and organization of the energy sector. Since the social goods that the energy system has contributed with have been of great importance for the development of society, this interrelation has also been characterized by ideological interpretations about the desired direction and content of this societal development. (Kaijser, 1994:21). Because of changed economic circumstances and an increased environmental awareness during recent years these interpretations have been characterized by a market orientation as well as a discourse concerning sustainable development in society. The orientation towards a market-oriented public sector began within the Swedish state and then diffused to the municipalities. This reinterpretation has expressed itself through a transition from a production orientation, bureaucracy and monopolies to a customer orientation, privatization and competition. The path has been via decentralization, customer-choice models, better planning routines and development of entrepreneurship (Hansson & Lind, 1998:16f). The drive towards a market-oriented public sector has resulted in great changes in the development of the energy system and, i