Ownership unbundling in electricity distribution: empircal evidence from New Zealand

Paul Nillesen and Michael Pollitt

Cambridge Working Papers in Economics from Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge

Abstract: New Zealand is the only country to date to have implemented forced ownership unbundling of electricity distribution from the rest of the electricity supply industry (in 1998). This paper examines the impact of this policy on electricity prices, quality of service and costs. We find that ownership unbundling did not achieve its objectives of facilitating greater competition in the electricity supply industry but that it did lead to lower costs and higher quality of service. We suggest that this experience indicates the potential benefits of ownership unbundling in Europe but also the danger of un-intended consequences.

Keywords: electricity distribution; ownership unbundling; New Zealand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L94 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-com, nep-ene and nep-mic
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Ownership Unbundling in Electricity Distribution: Empirical Evidence from New Zealand (2011)
Working Paper: Ownership unbundling in electricity distribution: empirical evidence from New Zealand (2008)
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