I owned that on the Sega Saturn... it was unbalanced as hell - basically it was IMPOSSIBLE to get bigger than about 12000 inhabitants until nuclear power arrived, which would be after you needed to reneow your oil or coal plant. Saving up for one took about 45 to 50 years, just in time for your next power plant...
I only filled the map a few times. Each time required a custom map with enough waterfalls to slowly grow in the early years using hydro power until I could afford a few microwave plants or fusion reactors. The first time I started coating the world with Launch Arcos, then got pissed when my massivley expensive buildings lifted off into space. From then on the cheap but people cramming Plymouth Arcos's were my choice - once managed to get an entire map to be nothing but them, transport and service buildings. Wasnt much to look at but several million inhabitants and lots of cash were good. Who needs a breathable atmosphere and clean water anyhow?
My mispent youth can be summed up by a number of games: SpeedBall 2, Cannon Fodder, Command and Conquer, PowerMonger, Megalomania, Theme Park, Worms and ToeJam and Earl. The latter being an unsung work of genius with a great soundtrack, a fab sence of humor and procedurally generated levels.