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Keine Effizienzunterschiede zwischen öffentlichen und privaten Energieversorgungsunternehmen

Author

Listed:
  • Astrid Cullmann
  • Maria Nieswand
  • Stefan Seifert
  • Caroline Stiel

Abstract

The increase in municipal economic activity in the utilities sector frequently comes under scrutiny. It is presumed that public utilities have less incentive to provide efficient service than private companies. This could result in excessive costs and prices for end users. New microdata on German energy supply companies allow to conduct an empirical analysis for the whole of Germany for the first time. The findings indicate that there is no difference in efficiency between public and private utilities. This applies to both the competitively structured electricity retail sector and regulated electricity distribution sector. General restructuring in the energy sector such as the increased competitive pressure or the introduction of a more stringent regulatory regime have led to changes in the efficiency of all energy supply companies. The dichotomy between public and private utilities that has been suggested in the (re)municipalization debate therefore appears to be exaggerated. Die Ausweitung der kommunalen Wirtschaftstätigkeit in der Energieversorgung wird oftmals kritisch betrachtet. Es wird vermutet, dass öffentliche Unternehmen im Vergleich zu privaten Unternehmen geringeren Anreizen zu effizienter Leistungserstellung unterliegen. Das könnte überhöhte Kosten und Endkundenpreise zur Folge haben. Neue Mikrodaten deutscher Energieversorgungsunternehmen erlauben erstmals eine deutschlandweite empirische Untersuchung. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass es keine Effizienzunterschiede zwischen öffentlichen und privaten Unternehmen gibt. Das gilt sowohl für den wettbewerblich organisierten Stromvertrieb als auch für den regulierten Verteilnetzbetrieb. Allgemeine Umstrukturierungen im Energiesektor wie der erhöhte Wettbewerbsdruck oder verstärkte Regulierungsvorschriften haben zu Effizienzänderungen aller Energieversorgungsunternehmen geführt. Die Dichotomie zwischen öffentlichen und privaten Unternehmen, die in der (Re-)Kommunalisierungsdebatte suggeriert wird, scheint daher übertrieben.

Suggested Citation

  • Astrid Cullmann & Maria Nieswand & Stefan Seifert & Caroline Stiel, 2016. "Keine Effizienzunterschiede zwischen öffentlichen und privaten Energieversorgungsunternehmen," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 83(20), pages 448-453.
  • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwob:83-20-3
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public utilities; local government; energy; efficiency analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L98 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Government Policy

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