| This dissertation describes the historical, legal, and economic origins of wholesale electricity regulation in the United States, focusing specifically on Title II of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and Title VII of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The historical sections serve to demonstrate the intent of Congress in passing both of these laws. The economic analysis that follows demonstrates that these laws conflict in a fashion that impedes the formation of a fully competitive wholesale power market. Proposals to improve competition in the electricity industry will be analyzed within the context of legal impediments to fully functioning electricity markets. |
