Relative efficiency benefits of wholesale and retail competition in electricity: An analysis and a research agenda

Technical Report · Thu Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/211621· OSTI ID:211621

Bohi, D R; Palmer, K L ^[1]

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1. Resources for the Future, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)

A central issue in the debate over restructuring the electric power industry is the extent to which the market should be open to competition. One aspect of this debate is whether competition ought to be restricted to the whole sale power market or be extended to final retail consumers. This report begins to explore the potential differences in economic efficiency between wholesale and retail competition in the electric power industry. The two market-structure scenarios are defined and the factors responsible for differences in efficiency are described. The report also contains an assessment of the relative importance of the factors and recommendations for pursuing further research.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States); Resources for the Future, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 211621
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP--461-20686; ON: DE96000545
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
COMPETITION
ELECTRIC INDUSTRY RESTRUCTURING
ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATIONAL MODELS
RESELLERS
RETAIL COMPETITION
RETAIL PRICES
WHOLESALE COMPETITION
WHOLESALE PRICES