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The Adoption Of State Electricity Regulation: The Role Of Interest Groups

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  • CHRISTOPHER R. KNITTEL

Abstract

This paper examines the adoption of state electricity regulation around the beginning of the 20th century. I model this decision as a hazard rate to determine what influenced the adoption of state regulation. I find that adoption is positively correlated with capacity shortages, greater wealth and lower residential electricity penetration rates. These results suggest that state regulation responded to regulatory inefficiencies and residential consumer interests. In addition, adoption rates were higher in states that had a strong industrial and coal mining presence. These results are consistent with the interest group and contracting theories of regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher R. Knittel, 2006. "The Adoption Of State Electricity Regulation: The Role Of Interest Groups," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 201-222, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jindec:v:54:y:2006:i:2:p:201-222
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6451.2006.00280.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ando, Amy Whritenour & Palmer, Karen L., 1998. "Getting on the Map: The Political Economy of State-Level Electricity Restructuring," Discussion Papers 10643, Resources for the Future.
    2. Chandler, Alfred D., 1990. "Scale and Scope: A Review Colloquium - Scale and Scope: The Dynamics of Industrial Capitalism. By Alfred D. ChandlerJr., with Takashi Hikino · Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1990. xix + 8," Business History Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 64(4), pages 690-735, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen P. Holland & Jonathan E. Hughes & Christopher R. Knittel & Nathan C. Parker, 2015. "Some Inconvenient Truths about Climate Change Policy: The Distributional Impacts of Transportation Policies," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 97(5), pages 1052-1069, December.
    2. Klaus Heine, 2013. "Inside the black box: incentive regulation and incentive channeling on energy markets," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 17(1), pages 157-186, February.
    3. Jac C. Heckelman & Bonnie Wilson, 2021. "Targeting inflation targeting: the influence of interest groups," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 533-554, December.
    4. Craig, J. Dean, 2016. "Motivations for market restructuring: Evidence from U.S. electricity deregulation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 162-167.
    5. Kitchens, Carl T. & Jaworski, Taylor, 2017. "Ownership and the price of residential electricity: Evidence from the United States, 1935–1940," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 53-61.
    6. Michael G. Pollitt & Jafar Sadeghi & Thomas P. Triebs, 2024. "The Effects of Vertical Separation and Competition: Evidence from US Electric Utility Restructuring," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 65(2), pages 531-559, September.
    7. Antonio Estache & Liam Wren-Lewis, 2011. "Anti-Corruption Policy in Theories of Sector Regulation," Chapters, in: Susan Rose-Ackerman & Tina Søreide (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption, Volume Two, chapter 9, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Lea Kosnik, 2010. "Balancing Environmental Protection and Energy Production in the Federal Hydropower Licensing Process," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 86(3).
    9. Gray, Rowena, 2013. "Taking technology to task: The skill content of technological change in early twentieth century United States," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 351-367.
    10. Thomas Lyon & Nathan Wilson, 2012. "Capture or contract? The early years of electric utility regulation," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 225-241, December.
    11. Guerriero, Carmine, 2011. "Accountability in government and regulatory policies: Theory and evidence," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 453-469.
    12. Estache, Antonio & Wren-Lewis, Liam, 2010. "What Anti-Corruption Policy Can Learn from Theories of Sector Regulation," CEPR Discussion Papers 8082, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    13. Clay, Karen & Jha, Akshaya & Lewis, Joshua & Severnini, Edson, 2025. "Carbon Rollercoaster: A Historical Analysis of Decarbonization in the United States," IZA Discussion Papers 18008, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    14. Guerriero, Carmine, 2013. "The political economy of incentive regulation: Theory and evidence from US states," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 91-107.
    15. Hayashida, Sherilyn & La Croix, Sumner & Coffman, Makena, 2021. "Understanding changes in electric vehicle policies in the U.S. states, 2010–2018," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 211-223.
    16. Robert Michaels, 2008. "Electricity Market Monitoring and the Economics of Regulation," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 32(3), pages 197-216, May.
    17. Steffen Jenner & Lotte Ovaere & Stephan Schindele, 2013. "The Impact of Private Interest Contributions on RPS Adoption," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 411-423, November.
    18. Witold J. Henisz & Bennet A. Zelner & Mauro F. Guillen, 2004. "International Coercion, Emulation and Policy Diffusion: Market-Oriented Infrastructure Reforms, 1977-1999," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series 2004-713, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
    19. Steffen Jenner, Gabriel Chan, Rolf Frankenberger, and Mathias Gabel, 2012. "What Drives States to Support Renewable Energy?," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 2).

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