In an upcoming article in the August 2017 issue of the Wiley journal Natural Gas & Electricity, NERA Managing Director Dr. Jeff D. Makholm discusses the advance of competition in electricity supply. He reviews examples of successful electricity deregulation, as well as the challenges faced by the industry. Electricity deregulation is especially complicated because of various unique aspects of the service. Dr. Makholm evaluates electricity competition in North America and elsewhere, focusing on default service and “two-sided platform” markets.

Progress in local grid efficiencies tied to climate change (e.g., microgrids, smart service contracts, peer-to-peer power exchanges) would appear to depend on the innovation of competitive participants, particularly competitive retailers of power, in the market to provide services to all electricity consumers. All of that notwithstanding, further progress in pursuing competitive power markets is going to be difficult. How future electricity markets square with the desire for more efficient and green initiatives in electricity service delivery will probably involve many battles in many diverse jurisdictions.

Makholm, Jeff D. (2017, August). Electricity Deregulation Under Siege. Natural Gas & Electricity 34/01, ©2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., a Wiley company.