Power/energy: high marks for technology

The depressed economic situation afflicting the utilities in 1974-75 eased considerably in 1976, as the power industry achieved a more favorable stock equity and cash flow. Profit margins were up and the Dow-Jones utility average reflected a steady growth pattern. Thus, despite some dramatic incidents early in the year, such as the denunciation of the safety features in nuclear plants by three General Electric Company engineers and a licensing engineer with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (see Spectrum features on nuclear safety, May 1976), the industry fared quite well.