報告書番号

Y12004

タイトル（和文）

米国における電力の小売全面自由化の制度設計と競争状況

タイトル（英文）

The Institutional Framework and the Status of Competition in the U.S. Retail Electricity Market for Residential Customers

概要 （図表や脚注は「報告書全文」に掲載しております）

本報告では，米国で小売の全面自由化を行った州において，家庭用の小売競争に影響を与える制度設計について調査するとともに，近年の競争状況や電気料金の動向を分析し，全面自由化が家庭用需要家のメリットとなっているのかを検討した。2009年以降，米国全体で卸電力価格が低下してきたことなどを受け，自由化州における家庭用の小売市場での競争的小売事業者のシェアは増加している。しかし，この間，自由化州の電気料金は必ずしも低下しているわけではない。また，競争的小売事業者のシェアの増加とともに電気料金が低下した州では，2008年までに電気料金が大きく上昇していたこともあり，非自由化州の電気料金との格差は，自由化前と比較しても，縮小していないところがある。自由化後の電気料金は，卸電力価格との連動性が高まり，変動が大きくなるという傾向も見られる。

概要 （英文）

This report discusses the institutional issues in electricity retail competition in the U.S. and investigates the relationship between the retail choice and the benefits of residential customers in the form of lower prices to draw some lessons for Japanese electricity industry moving toward full liberalization of its retail market.
In the U.S. the regulated electric utilities (local distribution company) are only allowed to operate in competitive retail supply business through their affiliates. The separation of retail supply from distribution requires new systems to handle the customers' switching of the supplier, but its cost-effectiveness needs to be made clear. In the liberalized markets, it is typical to require distribution utilities to offer default/last resort service under regulation, and customers who do not choose competitive retail supplier are also able to stay with their service. The design of regulated rates for these services is crucial for the development of retail competition in residential sector. In some states, the municipal aggregation plays an important role in facilitating retail competition.
To investigate the impact of retail choice and the economic benefits for residential customers, we analyze the data for switching rates and electricity prices in each of the restructuring states. We found that the switching rates of residential customers have increased in recent years, partly due to the declining wholesale power prices and in some states electricity prices have been lowered. However, the effect of retail competition on electricity prices is not yet clear, as the level of price had been increased since liberalization, as compared to that of regulated states.

報告者

キーワード