Overview:

About 30% of the fossil fuel consumed in the US is used in the form of electricity. Of this about 75% is coal. Most people do not realize that whenever they use electricity they are probably also using coal.

Electricity use is the foundation for much of our way of life. Most communication is based on it. Most machines, other than vehicles, are powered by electric motors. Lighting is universally electric. Less visible are the myriad industrial processes that use electricity. Most recent is the rising tide of electronic devices, including computers, as essential elements of living.

It is beyond the scope of this site to go into the details of electricity use. But here are some suggestive links:

Trade Associations:

Air Movement & Control Association International, Inc. - non-profit trade association for manufacturers of air movement and control equipment, including fans, louvers, dampers and related air systems.
Alliance to Save Energy - non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders promoting efficient use of energy.
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy - non-profit devoted to research, publications and conferences on energy efficiency in buildings, utilities, applicances, office equipment, industry and transportation.
American Lighting Association - trade association uniting lighting and component manufactures, showroom/ distributors, manufactures representives, and companies.
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association - professional and trade association representing producers, manufacturers and users of communications, electronic intelligence and information systems.
Association for Local Telecommunications Services - ALTS is the national industry association created in 1987 to promote local telecommunications competition.
Association for the Conservation of Energy - aims to encourage a positive national awareness of the need for and benefits of energy conservation.
Association of Energy Services Professionals
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Building Owners and Managers Association International
Call Centre Association - the professional body for the call centre industry.
Competitive Telecommunications Association (CompTel) - says it is the "national representative of the competitive telecommunications industry on the competition, survival and prosperity of the long-distance marketplace."
Energy Efficient Lighting Association - EELA is a trade association promoting the purchase and installation of quality energy efficient lighting products.
FNA - association of the worlds leading international telephone companies. January 2000 update: This URL was not working during this update.
FNA.NET (FNA6-DOM)
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INDONESIA
Home Automation Association - trade association for businesses involved with intelligent home controls and home automation products, services, utilities, and resources.
Home Automation Association - trade association for businesses involved with intelligent home controls and home automation products, services, utilities, and resources.
Information Technology and Telecommunications Association (TCA) - professional networking and educational opportunities to its members; also provides business consumer level guidance and representation to federal telecom issues.
Information Technology Industry Council - association of leading U.S. providers of information technology products and services.
International Association of Energy Economics - provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, experience and issues among professionals interested in energy economics.
International Communications Association - non-profit organization serving the interests of national and multi-national telecommunications network applications users.
International Press Telecommunications Council - developing and publishing industry standards for the interchange of news data.
International Telecommunication Union - international organization within which governments and the private sector coordinate global telecom networks and services.
International Teleconferencing Association (ITCA) - user organization for teleconferencing technology and applications, is the voice of collaborative communications.
Multi Media Telecommunications Association (MMTA) - supports the convergence of communications and computing business applications.
Multifunction Peripheral Association - association of major companies that produce or provide technology for the multifunction (printer, scanner, fax, copier, etc.) market.
National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) - represents state officials who hold primary responsibility over energy policy within their respective governments.
National Defense Industrial Association
National Telephone Cooperative Association - nonprofit trade association representing more than 500 independently owned and locally operated rural telephone companies.
PCMCIA - international standards body and trade association with over 500 member companies founded to establish standards for Integrated Circuit cards and to promote interchangeability among mobile computers.
Small Business in Telecommunications - forwards the interests of small business in the area of regulation and legislation improving the competitiveness and future opportunities in telecommunications.
Smart Card Industry Association - SCIA is a global trade association which strives to stimulate the use and understanding of smart card technology in the marketplace.
Society of Satellite Professionals
United States Telephone Association - USTA is the leading broad-based association for the local exchange carrier industry.
Wireless Cable Association International - The WCA advances the interests of companies that deliver subscription television programming as well as high-speed Internet access over a terrestrial microwave platform.

Yahoo Sites:

Consumer Economy
Electric power engineering companies

Regulation:

Electricity use per se is not regulated. It may however be subject to health and safety regulations, especially in the workplace.

Energy Information Administration (home page):
--Electricity menu for many EIA reports and databases.

Trade periodicals and publications:

Electric Light and Power -- general news, some technical. Free to qualified readers.
Energy Technology Data Exchange - an international consortium, owns the Energy Database, with over 3 million bibliographic citations of international energy research and development information.

Other sources:

Alliance to Save Energy - non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders promoting efficient use of energy.
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy - non-profit devoted to research, publications and conferences on energy efficiency in buildings, utilities, applicances, office equipment, industry and transportation.
Canadian Committee on Electrotechnologies (CCE) - strives to develop the efficient use of electric energy in industry.
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technology - a collaboration of major environmental organizations, public interest groups and clean technology companies working to achieve a more sustainable energy future.
Demand Site Management Programme - International Energy Agency program. Includes information about energy efficiency, electricity, and more.
Energie-Cités - association focusing on energy efficiency in the European municipalities, urban energy planning, urban transport, and European programmes.
Electric Power Research Institute is supported by many utilities. Some of its research is public. Plus email to experts.
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers - The IEEE's technical objectives center on advancing the theory and practice of electrical, electronics, and computer engineering and computer science. Many publications and member societies, such as:
-- IEEE Communications Society
-- IEEE Power Engineering Society
-- IEEE SSIT - the Society on Social Implications of Technology.
Institution of Electrical Engineers (UK) - largest professional engineering society in Europe, which promotes the advancement of electrical, electronic and manufacturing science and engineering.
International Electrotechnical Commission - international standards and conformity assessment body for all fields of electrotechnology.
International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) - non-profit organization, with offices on four continents, seeking to accelerate the global adoption of energy-efficiency in order to enable economically and ecologically sustainable development.
Northeast Energy and Commerce Association - focused on electricity and power industry. Heavily involved in deregulation and support for a competitive electric power industry.
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance - a non-profit consortium dedicated to transforming markets for energy-efficient products and services.
Technology Transition Corporation - provides management and membership services to energy related commercialization and development organizations.
World Energy Efficiency Association (WEEA) - a non-profit organization serving as a clearinghouse for information on energy efficiency programs, technologies and measures.