Competition Policy and the Transition to a Low-Carbon, Efficient Electricity Industry

18 Pages Posted: 21 May 2010

See all articles by John E. Kwoka, Jr.

John E. Kwoka, Jr.

Northeastern University - Department of Economics

Diana L. Moss

American Antitrust Institute

Date Written: May 21, 2010

Abstract

U.S. industries are facing intense pressures to become more energy efficient, driven by the need to lower the carbon footprints of energy-intensive sectors and to achieve energy security. A successful transition to a new era of efficient, low-carbon electricity production and usage will require fundamental changes in the way we plan for, produce, deliver, and price a critically important commodity. The purpose of this article is to explore the importance of competition policy in a transitioning electricity industry. It starts by setting out the important precondition of the new era: market participants have fundamentally different objectives than in the old regime, and these changed objectives need to be recognized in order to fashion appropriate policy. Next, the paper presents some of the major competitive issues that are likely to arise in the new era, including: access and demand response technologies, the design of markets for CO2 emissions allowances, and transmission planning. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations for how competition policy can best promote a successful transition.

Keywords: Antitrust, Energy

JEL Classification: D4,K2, L1, L2, L4, L5, L9

Suggested Citation

Kwoka, John E. and Moss, Diana L., Competition Policy and the Transition to a Low-Carbon, Efficient Electricity Industry (May 21, 2010). American Antitrust Institute Working Paper No. 10-02, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1612811 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1612811

John E. Kwoka

Northeastern University - Department of Economics ( email )

301 Lake Hall
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2882 (Phone)
(617) 373-3640 (Fax)

Diana L. Moss (Contact Author)

American Antitrust Institute ( email )

1025 Connecticut Ave. NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036
United States

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