| Abstract: | As part of the regulatory review of electric utility mergers in the United States, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requires utilities to submit market power studies. The Commission has specified a detailed method for calculating market concentration in these studies.This paper shows that one can simulate the actual price effects from the merger by using similar data and models. Using the merger between Union Electric and Central Illinois Public Service Company as an example, this paper demonstrates that the Commission's method is unsound and often identifies competitive problems that are not likely to exist. |
