Vertical separation vs. independent downstream entry in an electricity network: Experimental insights

Abstract

We analyze a realistic simulation of a complex electricity network. We obtain the data with a series of experimental sessions designed to closely replicate the Spanish electricity market. In the experiments reported here we compare the status quo with two alternative regulatory market structures. In one of them, labeled as vertical separation, we impose that power generating firms and electricity distributors operate as independent business groups. In the second, we study the effect of entry by independent end-suppliers. Both alternative scenarios dominate the status quo in terms of market efficiency, but the latter of them dominates the former.