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Yardstick Regulation of Electricity Distribution—Disentangling Short-run and Long-run Inefficiencies

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  • Subal C. Kumbhakar
  • Gudbrand Lien

Abstract

In this paper we estimate the short-run, long-run and overall efficiency of Norwegian electricity distribution companies for the period 2000-2013 controlling for both noise and company effects. Short-run inefficiency is the part of inefficiency that is allowed to adjust freely over time for each company, but long-run (persistent) inefficiency remains constant over time, although it is allowed to vary across companies. For robustness check we also consider two additional models in which either company effects are not controlled or these are treated as inefficiency. The production technology is represented by a translog input distance function in all three models. We find that technical change and returns to scale are quite robust across the models. However, the efficiency scores across the three models we consider are not correlated strongly. We conclude that the regulators and practitioners should take extra caution in using the proper model in practice, especially when the efficiency measures are used to reward/punish companies through incentives for better performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Subal C. Kumbhakar & Gudbrand Lien, 2017. "Yardstick Regulation of Electricity Distribution—Disentangling Short-run and Long-run Inefficiencies," The Energy Journal, , vol. 38(5), pages 17-38, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:enejou:v:38:y:2017:i:5:p:17-38
    DOI: 10.5547/01956574.38.5.skum
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Hou, Zheng & Roseta-Palma, Catarina & Ramalho, Joaquim J.S., 2024. "Can operational efficiency in the Portuguese electricity sector be improved? Yes, but..," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).

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