Liberalised Electricity Markets - Strengths and Weaknesses in Finland and Nordpool

This report gives an overview of the implications of electricity market liberalisation, with special reference to the Nordic market and Finland. The principal focus is on the functioning of the wholesale (generation) and retail (endusers) markets. Furthermore, the handling of risks and the interaction with various environmental policies receive special attention. Essentially the Nordic and Finnish electricity markets have been functioning reasonably well. Yet, under the pressure of the tight market in the winter of 2002, various shortcomings became more obvious. The re-attachment of the wholesale and retail market, inter alia through the (re)introduction of DSM, should be a prime concern. Other points of attention are - among others - the surveillance of the monopolistic services in the market and tendencies for vertical integration.