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Network unbundling and flawed coordination: Experience from the electricity sector

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  • Brunekreeft, Gert

Abstract

What is a good balance between competition and coordination? On the upside, unbundling in network industries promotes competition, but this should be balanced against the downside of unbundling, that is, the cost of coordination. Firm-internal coordination falls away and must be replaced by external market mechanisms. This is a non-trivial task. The cost of flawed coordination resulting from fragmentation can be substantial and policy should focus more on market mechanisms and governance structures to secure better coordination. This paper examines the problem of coordination and discusses with real-world examples why the market faces difficulty in providing effective coordination.

Suggested Citation

  • Brunekreeft, Gert, 2015. "Network unbundling and flawed coordination: Experience from the electricity sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 11-18.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:34:y:2015:i:c:p:11-18
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2015.03.003
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    Cited by:

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    3. Schreiner, Lena & Madlener, Reinhard, 2022. "Investing in power grid infrastructure as a flexibility option: A DSGE assessment for Germany," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    4. Marius Buchmann, 2019. "How decentralization drives a change of the institutional framework on the distribution grid level in the electricity sector – the case of local congestion markets," Bremen Energy Working Papers 0031, Bremen Energy Research.
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    6. Giulietti, Monica & Le Coq, Chloé & Willems, Bert & Anaya, Karim, 2019. "Smart Consumers in the Internet of Energy : Flexibility Markets & Services from Distributed Energy Resources," Other publications TiSEM 2edb43b5-bbd6-487d-abdf-7, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    7. Gert Brunekreeft & Dierk Bauknecht & Martin Palovic & Anna Pechan & Franziska Flachsbarth & Matthias Koch, 2024. "Policy measures to apply the Whole System Approach (WSA) in energy infrastructures," Bremen Energy Working Papers 0047, Bremen Energy Research.
    8. Gert Brunekreeft & Julia Kusznir & Roland Meyer, 2020. "Output-orientierte Regulierung – ein Überblick," Bremen Energy Working Papers 0035, Bremen Energy Research.
    9. McClean, A. & Pedersen, O.W., 2023. "The role of regulation in geothermal energy in the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    10. Kunz, Friedrich & Zerrahn, Alexander, 2015. "Benefits of coordinating congestion management in electricity transmission networks: Theory and application to Germany," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 34-45.
    11. Marius Buchmann, 2016. "Information Management in Smart Grids - Who Should Govern Information Management to Balance Between Coordination and Competition on the Distribution Grid Level?," Bremen Energy Working Papers 0022, Bremen Energy Research.
    12. Tooraj Jamasb & Manuel Llorca, 2019. "Energy Systems Integration: Economics of a New Paradigm," Working Papers EPRG 1903, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    13. Nilton Bispo Amado & Erick Del Bianco Pelegia & Ildo Luís Sauer & Welson Bassi & Julieta Andrea Puerto Rico & Carlos Germán Meza González, 2024. "Who Should Own the Residual Rights over Distributed Resources?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-17, October.
    14. Sugimoto, Kota, 2021. "Ownership versus legal unbundling of electricity transmission network: Evidence from renewable energy investment in Germany," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
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    16. Eid, Cherrelle & Bollinger, L. Andrew & Koirala, Binod & Scholten, Daniel & Facchinetti, Emanuele & Lilliestam, Johan & Hakvoort, Rudi, 2016. "Market integration of local energy systems: Is local energy management compatible with European regulation for retail competition?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 913-922.
    17. Suleman, Shafic, 2020. "Natural Gas Industry Restructuring for Value Optimisation: A Case Study of Ghana," MPRA Paper 99155, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Meletiou, Alexis & Cambini, Carlo & Masera, Marcelo, 2018. "Regulatory and ownership determinants of unbundling regime choice for European electricity transmission utilities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 13-25.
    19. Gerard, Helena & Rivero Puente, Enrique Israel & Six, Daan, 2018. "Coordination between transmission and distribution system operators in the electricity sector: A conceptual framework," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 40-48.
    20. Summanen, Tuomo & Arminen, Heli, 2018. "Ownership unbundling in electricity distribution: The Russian experience," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1199-1210.
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    JEL classification:

    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities

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