Files
Abstract
A primary aim of deregulation is to reduce the customer cost of electricity. In this
paper, we examine the degree of success in reaching that goal using a variety of methods.
We examine rates for each of four customer classes; for regulated, deregulated and
publicly owned utilities; and for three definitions of deregulation. We control for a
variety of factors which may independently affect differences in electricity price: climate,
fuel costs, and electricity generation by energy source. Taken as a whole, the results
from our analysis do not support a conclusion that deregulation has led to lower
electricity rates.