The effect of liberalising UK retail energy markets on consumers

Waddams Price, Catherine (2005) The effect of liberalising UK retail energy markets on consumers. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 21 (1). pp. 128-144. ISSN 0266-903X

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Abstract

This paper describes the evolution of supply competition in the UK residential energy market and the extent to which consumers in general, and vulnerable households in particular, have benefited from liberalization. It concludes that earlier fears about higher prices for vulnerable groups from tariff rebalancing have not so far been realized. However, in assessing the extent to which suppliers may be able to exploit individual or joint market power, increasing concentration in the downstream market may result in adverse effects on all consumers, especially low-income households. This poses a threat to the government's programme to reduce fuel poverty, particularly at a time when upstream costs are expected to rise to reflect environmental concerns.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Responsible Business Regulation Group
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Competition Policy
Depositing User: Vishal Gautam
Date Deposited: 01 Mar 2005
Last Modified: 22 Apr 2023 01:43
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/16541
DOI: 10.1093/oxrep/gri007

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