Stratford Douglas (Department of Economics, West Virginia University)
Abstract
This paper examines changes in the utilization of coal power plants in the eastern US since federal regulators opened the transmission system to wholesale power markets in 1996. If market reforms increase efficiency of dispatch, utilization rates of highcost plants should fall relative to those of low-cost plants. Using plant-level panel data and a difference-in-difference model, I find that utilization rates of low-cost plants increased relative to those of high-cost plants after 1996, but only in regions with independent system operators. Simulations indicate cost savings on the order of two to three percent.
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Paper provided by Department of Economics, West Virginia University in its series Working Papers with number
04-03.
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