Starting in 1998, the electricity market in England and Wales will be opened up to full competition, and all consumers … will be allowed to choose their electricity supplier. This promises to result in lower prices, but there will be additional … are likely to be large transfers from electricity companies (and the coal industry) to consumers, but the companies lose …

A key selling point for the restructuring of electricity markets was the promise of lower prices. There is not much … consensus in earlier studies on the effects of electricity deregulation in the U.S., particularly for residential customers … find that an increase in participation rates, price controls, a larger market, and high shares of hydro in electricity …

. Originality/value This study discusses the current policy issues and future direction on the Japanese electricity market reform …