Competition in gas markets

摘要

This paper discusses some of the current regulatory issues that arise in gas markets under perfect or imperfect competition. It first presents a benchmark model of gas transportation pricing, when all markets are competitive. Optimal prices and capacities are characterized both without and with a break-even constraint for the transportation operator. Elaborating on this framework, it then studies the appropriate dimensioning of the transportation network when an otherwise unregulated supplier exertsmarket power. Specifically, it points to the possibility of building up "excess" transmission capacity in order to mitigate local market power.