Handbook on Electricity Regulation
Published on 27. June 2025
Book
Hardback
558 pages
978-1-0353-1434-8 (ISBN)
Description
With twenty-two chapters written by leading international experts, this volume represents the most detailed and comprehensive Handbook on electricity regulation ever published. The volume covers the existing state of best-practice regulation in the US, UK, the European Union and Australia, for both electricity transmission, electricity distribution and retail electricity.
The regulatory challenges of the energy transition are discussed. These include the need for regulators to incentivise large amounts of investment in conditions of uncertainty and to promote innovation. Deep decarbonisation, via electrification, raises regulatory issues for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and hydrogen networks.
The book also considers the state of electricity regulation in China, India and smaller lower and middle income countries. These jurisdictions have underdeveloped regulatory systems which can benefit from learning from more advanced regulatory systems as long as there is sufficient adaptation to local contexts.
The Handbook is intended to be used by those with direct interests in electricity regulation. Students and young professionals will find the information they need to enter the field in a single source. Researchers, experienced professionals and public decision-makers will get a comprehensive update on topical issues in electricity regulation. This will help them make sense of a sector that is undergoing profound change at the same time as the public policy motivations for regulation are not diminishing.
The regulatory challenges of the energy transition are discussed. These include the need for regulators to incentivise large amounts of investment in conditions of uncertainty and to promote innovation. Deep decarbonisation, via electrification, raises regulatory issues for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and hydrogen networks.
The book also considers the state of electricity regulation in China, India and smaller lower and middle income countries. These jurisdictions have underdeveloped regulatory systems which can benefit from learning from more advanced regulatory systems as long as there is sufficient adaptation to local contexts.
The Handbook is intended to be used by those with direct interests in electricity regulation. Students and young professionals will find the information they need to enter the field in a single source. Researchers, experienced professionals and public decision-makers will get a comprehensive update on topical issues in electricity regulation. This will help them make sense of a sector that is undergoing profound change at the same time as the public policy motivations for regulation are not diminishing.
Reviews / Votes
'This is another phenomenal volume, complementing the previous Handbook of Electricity Markets well. The book takes on both classic and emerging issues in the economics of regulating electricity networks. It will be an essential guide for practitioners, teachers, and students alike.' -- Catherine D. Wolfram, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA 'The Handbook, deep diving into network and retail regulation, explores the journey to the present state and the road ahead in the context of energy transition and net zero. It highlights what has been done so far and what is required to be done in the backdrop of increasing complexity and the need to promote innovation and mitigate uncertainty. The Handbook is a must-read for professionals and policymakers.' -- P.K Pujari (IAS), Former Secretary to Government of India in Ministry of Power and Former Chairperson, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), India 'This excellent Handbook focuses on electricity regulation-what makes markets actually work. It clearly answers three important questions about good regulation, whether it should be the same everywhere, and how to make it work. With expert insights from many countries covering both old and new challenges, it's essential reading for understanding today's electricity systems.' -- Chloe Le Coq, University Paris Pantheon-Assas, FranceMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 169 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-1434-8 (9781035314348)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Jean-Michel Glachant, Professor, Florence School of Regulation, EUI, Florence and Advisor, Technology University POLITO, Turin, Italy, Paul L. Joskow, Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of Economics Emeritus, Department of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and Michael G. Pollitt, Professor of Business Economics, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK
Content
Contents
1 Introduction to the Handbook on Electricity Regulation 1
Jean-Michel Glachant, Paul L. Joskow, and Michael G. Pollitt
FOUNDATIONS OF ELECTRICITY REGULATION AND RECENT REFORMS
2 Designing incentive regulation in the electricity sector 18
David P. Brown and David E.M. Sappington
3 Cost-of-service regulation of electricity distribution services in the US 44
Paul L. Joskow and Richard Schmalensee
4 Regulated distribution sector facing the future - the GB experience 68
Cloda Jenkins
5 Regulated distribution sector facing the future: trends in the European Union 101
Christine Brandstaett and Jean-Michel Glachant
6 Regulation of access, pricing, and planning of high-voltage transmission in the US 121
Joe DeLosa III, Johannes P. Pfeifenberger, and Paul L. Joskow
7 Regulation of access, fees and investment planning of transmission in Great Britain 155
David Newbery
8 The regulatory landscape and investment planning for transmission in the EU 182
Paul Nillesen, Otto Jager and Joost Ornee
9 The regulation of electricity networks in Australia's National Electricity Market: user charges, investment and access 201
Paul Simshauser
10 Retail rate design in the US: time-varying rates for residential customers 233
Ahmad Faruqui and Ziyi Tang
11 Economics of energy efficiency 256
Kenneth Gillingham and Erica Myers
REGULATORY MECHANISMS TO GUIDE THE TRANSITION TO NET ZERO
12 The grid of the future and what regulators need to know about it 271
Janusz Bialek and Mark O'Malley
13 Decarbonizing the US electricity grid: policy and regulatory frameworks and challenges 287
Judy W. Chang and Henry Lee
14 Regulating European distribution systems to achieve net zero: untapping flexibility efficiently 313
Tim Schittekatte
15 "Behind the meter" developments 336
Fereidoon Sioshansi
16 Uncertainty, regulation and the pathways to net zero 353
Michael G. Pollitt, Daniel Duma and Andrei Covatariu
17 How can regulated electricity network companies promote innovation? Lessons from the field of practice 373
Leonardo Meeus and Nicolo Rossetto
18 Regulation of hydrogen networks and potential market structure 388
Chi Kong Chyong and Jackson R. Dalman
19 Challenges to expanding EV adoption and policy responses 407
Christopher R. Knittel and Shinsuke Tanaka
NON-OECD COUNTRIES
20 Power sector reform in China: economic logic and political reasoning 451
Xu Yi-chong
21 Regulation of transmission, distribution and retail in India 475
Anupama Sen and Tooraj Jamasb
22 Distinctive regulatory challenges in developing countries 506
Debabrata Chattopadhyay and Vivien Foster
1 Introduction to the Handbook on Electricity Regulation 1
Jean-Michel Glachant, Paul L. Joskow, and Michael G. Pollitt
FOUNDATIONS OF ELECTRICITY REGULATION AND RECENT REFORMS
2 Designing incentive regulation in the electricity sector 18
David P. Brown and David E.M. Sappington
3 Cost-of-service regulation of electricity distribution services in the US 44
Paul L. Joskow and Richard Schmalensee
4 Regulated distribution sector facing the future - the GB experience 68
Cloda Jenkins
5 Regulated distribution sector facing the future: trends in the European Union 101
Christine Brandstaett and Jean-Michel Glachant
6 Regulation of access, pricing, and planning of high-voltage transmission in the US 121
Joe DeLosa III, Johannes P. Pfeifenberger, and Paul L. Joskow
7 Regulation of access, fees and investment planning of transmission in Great Britain 155
David Newbery
8 The regulatory landscape and investment planning for transmission in the EU 182
Paul Nillesen, Otto Jager and Joost Ornee
9 The regulation of electricity networks in Australia's National Electricity Market: user charges, investment and access 201
Paul Simshauser
10 Retail rate design in the US: time-varying rates for residential customers 233
Ahmad Faruqui and Ziyi Tang
11 Economics of energy efficiency 256
Kenneth Gillingham and Erica Myers
REGULATORY MECHANISMS TO GUIDE THE TRANSITION TO NET ZERO
12 The grid of the future and what regulators need to know about it 271
Janusz Bialek and Mark O'Malley
13 Decarbonizing the US electricity grid: policy and regulatory frameworks and challenges 287
Judy W. Chang and Henry Lee
14 Regulating European distribution systems to achieve net zero: untapping flexibility efficiently 313
Tim Schittekatte
15 "Behind the meter" developments 336
Fereidoon Sioshansi
16 Uncertainty, regulation and the pathways to net zero 353
Michael G. Pollitt, Daniel Duma and Andrei Covatariu
17 How can regulated electricity network companies promote innovation? Lessons from the field of practice 373
Leonardo Meeus and Nicolo Rossetto
18 Regulation of hydrogen networks and potential market structure 388
Chi Kong Chyong and Jackson R. Dalman
19 Challenges to expanding EV adoption and policy responses 407
Christopher R. Knittel and Shinsuke Tanaka
NON-OECD COUNTRIES
20 Power sector reform in China: economic logic and political reasoning 451
Xu Yi-chong
21 Regulation of transmission, distribution and retail in India 475
Anupama Sen and Tooraj Jamasb
22 Distinctive regulatory challenges in developing countries 506
Debabrata Chattopadhyay and Vivien Foster