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Determining the Competitiveness of Wholesale Electricity Markets

It Starts with Defining the Markets*

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Markets, Pricing, and Deregulation of Utilities

Part of the book series: Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy Series ((TREP,volume 40))

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Abstract

In this paper, I examine market definition in the context of FERC’s assessment of the competitiveness of wholesale electricity markets as part of its mandate to ensure “just and reasonable” rates under the Federal Power Act. The Commission has the statutory obligation to determine the competitiveness of wholesale electricity markets in two contexts: (1) in order to ensure “just and reasonable” rates under Section 205 of the Federal Power Act and (2) to determine the effect of a merger or acquisition on competition in the affected markets under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act. In both cases, it needs to define the product and determine the geographic scope of the market in order to make that determination.

The opinions and conclusions of the author do not necessarily reflect those of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, its Staff or any of its Commissioners.

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Hunger, D. (2002). Determining the Competitiveness of Wholesale Electricity Markets. In: Crew, M.A., Schuh, J.C. (eds) Markets, Pricing, and Deregulation of Utilities. Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy Series, vol 40. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0877-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0877-9_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5283-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0877-9

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