In this Episode
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher
Host: Todd Snitchler, President and CEO, Electric Power Supply Association
Guest: Lynne Kiesling, Co-Director, Institute for Regulatory Law and Economics
In this episode, we hear from economist and competition expert Lynne Kiesling as she sits down with EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler to unpack power markets and their impact on the nation’s electricity system, ways a competitive market design compares to the traditional vertically-integrated utility model, what critics of competitive markets are getting wrong, and what the future of our energy landscape looks like with new energy solutions. Take a look at Lynne’s reading recommendations below, and listen to the podcast. Plus, check out her Substack newsletter, Knowledge Problem, for analysis on electricity and economics.
“We have pretty good evidence that wholesale power markets and the competitive markets … have yielded considerable benefits in terms of improving the production, efficiency, improving capacity utilization, [and] improving the generation efficiency in power generation.”
Lynne Kiesling
Chapters
00:01:14
00:02:44
Why Lynne Chose Electric Competition
00:05:20
The Story of Competitive Markets’ Evolution
00:11:16
00:17:00
00:22:07
Lynne’s Top 3 Questions for Competition
00:22:40
00:31:42
The Big Question: Can Competitive Markets Deliver?
00:36:32
Lightning Round Questions for Lynne
Producer, Audio Editor: Christina Nyquist, senior director, communications, Electric Power Supply Association
Production Associate: Frances Owen, communications associate, Electric Power Supply Association
Lynne’s Library
Check out Lynne Kiesling’s reading recommendations.
Alfred Kahn, Economics of Regulation
Richard Hirsh, Power Loss
“Imperfect markets versus imperfect regulation in US electricity generation.” American Economic Review 112, no. 2 (2022): 409-441.
“When does regulation distort costs? Lessons from fuel procurement in US electricity generation.” American Economic Review 105, no. 1 (2015): 411-444.
PBS Interview with Alfred Kahn, Professor Emeritus of Political Economy, Cornell University, former Chairman, New York Public Service Commission
