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Managing the liberalization of Italy's retail electricity market: A policy proposal☆

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  • Stagnaro, Carlo
  • Amenta, Carlo
  • Di Croce, Giulia
  • Lavecchia, Luciano

Abstract

Italy will phase out electricity retail price regulation by July 1st, 2020. Until then, residential customers and small businesses who do not choose their supplier are served under a regulated tariff named “maggior tutela” (greater protection), supplied by the local distributor at a price set by the regulator. We review the literature on electricity retail competition – with particular regard to its expected effects on prices, innovation, and customer engagement – and the conditions under which competition is expected to deliver benefits. We perform a Structure-Conduct-Performance analysis of Italy's retail electricity market for residential customers, finding two issues potentially problematic: excessive market concentration and low customer engagement. We propose a phase-out mechanism that relies on graduality, asymmetric regulation, and a mandatory, opt-out collective switching exercise. The mechanism aims to rapidly reduce market concentration by leveraging behavioral incentives to customers to switch to the cheapest supplier.

Suggested Citation

  • Stagnaro, Carlo & Amenta, Carlo & Di Croce, Giulia & Lavecchia, Luciano, 2020. "Managing the liberalization of Italy's retail electricity market: A policy proposal☆," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:137:y:2020:i:c:s0301421519307372
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111150
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    Cited by:

    1. Humberto Verdejo-Fredes & Fernando García-Muñoz & Francisco Tobar & Cristhian Becker & Mauricio Olivares & Juan Zolezzi & Guillermo Guzmán, 2022. "Retail Electricity Market Liberalization: An Overview of International Experience and Effects on the Chilean Regulated Tariff," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Humberto Verdejo Fredes & Benjamin Acosta & Mauricio Olivares & Fernando García-Muñoz & Francisco Tobar & Vannia Toro & Cesar Smith & Cristhian Becker, 2021. "Impact of Energy Price Stabilization Mechanism on Regulated Clients’ Tariffs: The Case of Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Massimo Dragotto & Marco Magnani & Paola Valbonesi, 2021. "Consumer inertia and firm incumbency in liberalised retail electricity markets: an empirical investigation," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0277, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    4. Stagnaro, Carlo & Amenta, Carlo & Di Croce, Giulia & Lavecchia, Luciano, 2017. "La liberalizzazione del mercato elettrico - Una proposta per superare la maggior tutela [The liberalization of Italy's retail electricity market: a policy proposal]," MPRA Paper 81768, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Ivan Faiella & Luciano Lavecchia, 2021. "Households' energy demand and the effects of carbon pricing in Italy," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 614, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    6. Amenta, Carlo & Aronica, Martina & Stagnaro, Carlo, 2022. "Is more competition better? Retail electricity prices and switching rates in the European Union," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    7. Graça Gomes, João & Jiang, Juan & Chong, Cheng Tung & Telhada, João & Zhang, Xu & Sammarchi, Sergio & Wang, Shuyang & Lin, Yu & Li, Jialong, 2023. "Hybrid solar PV-wind-battery system bidding optimisation: A case study for the Iberian and Italian liberalised electricity markets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    8. Wang, Pengyu & Fang, Debin & Wang, Shuyi, 2022. "Optimal dynamic regulation in retail electricity market with consumer feedback and social learning," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).

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