Competition in the U.S. electric power sector : some recent developments

This paper examines recent efforts to expand competitive opportunities in the electric power sector in the US. I start with a brief overview of the structure and regulation of the US electricity sector as it existed in the mid-1980s. I then turn to a discussion of the role of what I will call "wholesale market competition" and how it has expanded during the last decade. Finally, I will discuss more recent efforts to expand competitive opportunities for retail customers. I conclude with some thoughts about future developments.Supported by the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research