EEE会議（電気料金の国際比較：日本とイタリア）........................................................2003.8.24


北米大停電事件に関連して、電気料金の国際比較が話題になっております。次にご紹
介するのは、小生が関係している米国のＥメール会議で出てきた意見ですが、最新号
のThe Economistによれば、日本とイタリアを比較すると、イタリアの方がエネル
ギー資源の面で日本よりはるかに不利なのに、電気料金は0.13ドル（キロワット）で
日本の0.22ドルよりはるかに安い、ということです。小生はまだThe Economist の記
事を読んでおりませんし、日本がイタリアよりエネルギー資源に恵まれているとは思
えませんが、しかし、なぜイタリアの方がこれだけ安くなるのか、合点が行きませ
ん。どなたか解明してくださいませんか？--KK

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The most recent article of the "Economist" has an interesting article
on the East Coast blackout in the USA. One interesting section is a
comparison of 2000 and 2001 electrical prices per kilowatt hour
between several countries.

The cost of a kilowatt to households (not wholesale electrical users)
in 2001 was US$ 0.22 per kilowatt in Japan, $ 0.13 in Italy , slightly
less in Germany, $ 0.10 in France and $ 0.08 in the USA.

In particular, the comparison between Japan and Italy is noteworthy.
As many contributors have noted on this forum, there are
considerable similarities between Italy and Japan. One area where
there is little similarity, however is in the level of natural resources
that Japan has, compared to the poverty of Italian natural resources.

Japan has a good variety of energy sources within its own borders:
it has both some oil and natural gas, coal (admittedly over priced)
as well as abundant hydroelectric resources, thermal energy
resources (it is among the top three in the world)  and also a
spectrum of alternative energy resources that make some
contribution.

Italy has nothing except for some hydroelectric resources. All
energy sources, be it oil or coal or nuclear energy material in Italy is
imported. Italy is also lagging very far in developing alternative
energy resources.

None the less, the price of electricity in Italy is $ 0.13 per kilowatt
and in Japan $ 0.22 per kilowatt.

W.T.Stonehill