Competition and Competition Policy in the Austrian Electricity Market. A Critical Review Four Years after Market Liberalisation

Electricity market liberalisation introduced in Austria four years ago initially brought the expected price reductions for both small and large users of electricity – but not more competition. Due to unresolved homemade structural problems, liberalisation has left incumbent electricity suppliers largely unchallenged in their comfortable position as local monopolists. Mergers of public utilities together with existing cross-shareholdings have contributed to a substantial increase of the market power of incumbents, thereby putting the economic benefits from market liberalisation seriously at risk. A programme to stimulate competition is recommended to accelerate the long-delayed legal "unbundling" and institute a thorough review of the strategic alliances in the Austrian electricity sector.