de campaigns to increase consumer awareness of the threat of power cuts when demand peaks, demand-side bidding to induce industrial customers to reduce their load during peak periods, and the use of advanced technology, such as advanced meters, to reduce or reschedule peak load. Impact of environmental regulations Environmental regulations, requiring power plants and other industrial facilities to limit or reduce their emissions, are becoming tighter. Uncertainty about future environmental legislation increases investor risk, creating uncertainty about future investment. Existing coal plants in most countries are already subject to controls over emissions of three local or regional pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates. However, today's investor faces a high risk of those controls being made tighter and new constraints being imposed on emissions, particularly CO2. Nuclear power plants may also be subject to additional safety regulations. More environmental protection will without doubt increase investment requirements for both existing and new power plants. Environmental costs may account for 10% to 40% of total plant costs in fossil-fuelled plants and INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2030: TELECOM, LAND TRANSPORT, WATER AND ELECTRICITY - ISBN 92-64-02398-4 © OECD 2006 3. OUTLOOK FOR GLOBAL INVESTMENT IN ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE more in nuclear plants. Emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter depend on the fuel mix used in power generation. They are highest in countries where electricity generation is based heavily on coal. Emission standards for these pollutants are tight and becoming tighter in many OECD countries. Developing countries will also be increasingly seeking to reduce these pollutants. This will increase further their already large needs for power sector investment. Environmental regulation may increasingly address carbon dioxide emissions in all countries. However, in the medium term the impact will be greater in the countries that act to reduce their greenhous