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New Models of Public Ownership in Energy

Author

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  • Aoife Brophy Haney

    (ESRC Electricity Policy Research Group and Judge Business School University of Cambridge)

  • Michael G. Pollitt

    (ESRC Electricity Policy Research Group and Judge Business School University of Cambridge)

Abstract

This paper discusses some of the new and continuing ways in which the public sector is involved in the electricity / energy sector around the world. This involvement continues to be significant in spite of the longrunning trend towards privatisation, competition and independent regulation in the energy sector. We discuss why the theoretical case for public ownership might be more attractive now than in the recent past. We then discuss six case studies of modern public ownership drawn from the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Denmark, New Zealand, Finland and Chile. The investments covered include wind and nuclear power, LNG facilities, electricity and gas distribution investments and energy service companies for combined heat and power. We conclude with some outstanding questions raised by the apparently favourable conditions for increased public involvement in energy.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Aoife Brophy Haney & Michael G. Pollitt, 2010. "New Models of Public Ownership in Energy," Working Papers EPRG 1030, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    • Handle: RePEc:enp:wpaper:eprg1030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Meade, Richard & Söderberg, Magnus, 2020. "Is welfare higher when utilities are owned by customers instead of investors? Evidence from electricity distribution in New Zealand," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    5. Mertzanis, Charilaos, 2018. "Institutions, development and energy constraints," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 962-982.
    6. Avri Eitan & Gillad Rosen & Lior Herman & Itay Fishhendler, 2020. "Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs: A Conceptual Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-23, May.
    7. Sarolta Somosi & Eszter Megyeri, 2022. "A Moving Target: Changing Priorities in the Energy Policy of the European Union," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(4), pages 542-552, July.
    8. Richard Meade & Magnus Soderberg, 2017. "Welfare-Maximising Investors? – Utility Firm Performance with Heterogeneous Quality Preferences and Endogenous Ownership," Working Papers 2017-09, Auckland University of Technology, Department of Economics.
    9. Roberto CARDINALE, 2017. "The Political-Economy Implications of the Transition from State-Owned to Mixed-Owned Enterprises: Evidence from the European Gas Sector," Departmental Working Papers 2017-10, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    10. Vagliasindi, Maria, 2012. "Key drivers of PPPs in electricity generation in developing countries : cross-country evidence of switching between PPP investment in fossil fuel and renewable-based generation," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6118, The World Bank.
    11. Rajavuori, Mikko & Huhta, Kaisa, 2020. "Investment screening: Implications for the energy sector and energy security," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    12. Elisa Borghi & Chiara Del Bo & Massimo Florio, 2016. "Institutions and Firms' Productivity: Evidence from Electricity Distribution in the EU," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 78(2), pages 170-196, April.
    13. Hyland, Marie, 2016. "Restructuring European electricity markets – A panel data analysis," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 33-42.
    14. Piotr Żuk & Paweł Żuk, 2021. "Increasing Energy Prices as a Stimulus for Entrepreneurship in Renewable Energies: Ownership Structure, Company Size and Energy Policy in Companies in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    15. George C Homsy, 2016. "Powering sustainability: Municipal utilities and local government policymaking," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(6), pages 1076-1094, September.
    16. Berka, Anna L. & Creamer, Emily, 2018. "Taking stock of the local impacts of community owned renewable energy: A review and research agenda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3400-3419.
    17. Fiorio, Carlo V. & Florio, Massimo, 2013. "Electricity prices and public ownership: Evidence from the EU15 over thirty years," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 222-232.
    18. Somosi, Sarolta, 2012. "Winners or losers?: State measures in crisis management and the energy markets," MPRA Paper 40370, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Brinker, Laura & Satchwell, Andrew J., 2020. "A comparative review of municipal energy business models in Germany, California, and Great Britain: Institutional context and forms of energy decentralization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    20. Chiara F. DEL BO & Massimo FLORIO, 2012. "Electricity investment: an evaluation of the new British energy policy and its implications for the European Union," Departmental Working Papers 2012-15, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
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    22. Eitan, Avri & Herman, Lior & Fischhendler, Itay & Rosen, Gillad, 2019. "Community–private sector partnerships in renewable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 95-104.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    public ownership; electricity; gas;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L32 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Public Enterprises; Public-Private Enterprises
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • L95 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Gas Utilities; Pipelines; Water Utilities

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