Deregulating the electric utility industry

Abstract

Many functions must be performed in any large electric power system. A specific proposal for a deregulated power system, based on a real-time spot energy marketplace, is presented and analyzed. A central T&D utility acts as a market maker, setting prices to equilibrate supply and demand. Decentralized competitive firms invest and operate in response to current and projected spot prices. The paper explicitly addresses the many practical engineering and economic functions and issues which must be taken into account by any proposal to deregulate electric power generation. It does not answer the question of whether deregulation is a good idea.