This paper seeks to bridge the gap between economists focused on designing competitive market mechanisms and engineers focused on the physical attributes and engineering requirements they perceive as being needed for operating a reliable electric power system. The paper starts by deriving the (second-best) optimal prices and investment program when there are price-insensitive retail consumers, but when their load serving entities can choose any level of rationing they prefer contingent on real time prices. It then examines the assumptions required for a competitive wholesale and retail market to achieve this optimal price and investment program. The paper analyses the implications of relaxing several of these assumptions. First, it analyzes the interrelationships between regulator-imposed price caps and capacity obligations. It goes on to explore the implications of potential network collapses, the concomitant need for operating reserve requirements and whether market prices will provide incentives for investments consistent with these reserve requirements.
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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number
6121.
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
Paul Joskow & Jean Tirole, 2004.
"Retail Electricity Competition,"
Working Papers
0409, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research.
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Cited by: (explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)
Paul Joskow & Jean Tirole, 2004.
"Retail Electricity Competition,"
Working Papers
0409, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research.
[Downloadable!]