Inefficiency persistence and heterogeneity in Colombian electricity distribution utilities

Jorge Galan and Michael Pollitt

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

Abstract: The electricity reform in Colombia has exhibited gains in terms of reliability but its effects on firms efficiency and service quality have not been clear. Previous studies evaluating the performance of distribution companies after the reform have not found evidence of improvements, although large differences in efficiency have been found among firms. This suggests high inefficiency persistence and heterogeneity in the Colombian distribution sector. In this paper, we propose an extension of dynamic stochastic frontier models that accounts for unobserved heterogeneity in the inefficiency persistence and in the technology. The model incorporates total expenses, service quality and energy losses in an efficiency analysis of Colombian distributors over fifteen years after the reform. We identify the presence of high inefficiency persistence in the sector, and important differences between firms. In particular, rural companies and firms with small customers present low persistence and evidence the largest gains in efficiency during the period. However, increases in efficiency are only manifested during the last five years when the main improvements in service quality and energy losses are presented. Overall, inefficiency persistence, customer density and consumption density are found to be important criteria to be considered for regulatory purposes.

Keywords: Bayesian inference; electricity distribution; dynamic effects; heterogeneity; stochastic frontier models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C11 C23 C51 D24 L94 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-08-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eff, nep-ene and nep-reg
Note: mgp20
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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Working Paper: Inefficiency persistence and heterogeneity in Colombian electricity distribution utilities (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cam:camdae:1423

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