Interest in power systems economics is gaining momentum with the recent power supply shortages in America and the rising cost of fossil fuels. The involvement of independent power generators, brokers and distributors has changed the way in which power systems operate.

Preface. 1. Introduction. 1. Why Competition? 2. Dramatis Personae. 3. Models of Competition. 4. Open Questions. 5. Further Reading. 6. Problems. 2. Basic Concepts from Economics. 1. Introduction. 2. Fundamentals of Markets. 3. Concepts from the Theory of the Firm. 4. Types of Markets. 5. Markets with Imperfect Competition. 6. Further Reading. 7. Problems. 3. Markets for Electrical Energy. 1. Introduction. 2. What is the Difference between a Megawatt-hour and a Barrel of Oil? 3. The Need for a Managed Spot Market. 4. Open Electrical Energy Markets. 5. The Managed Spot Market. 6. The Settlement Process. 7. Further Reading. 8. Problems. 4. Participating in Markets for Electrical Energy. 1. Introduction. 2. The Consumer's Perspective. 3. The Producer's Perspective. 4. Perspective of Plants with Very Low Marginal Costs. 5. The Hybrid Participant's Perspective. 6. Further Reading. 7. Problems. 5. System Security and Ancillary Services. 1. Introduction. 2. Describing the needs. 3. Obtaining Ancillary Services. 4. Buying Ancillary Services. 5. Selling Ancillary Services. 6. Further Reading. 7. Problems. 6. Transmission Networks and Electricity Markets. 1. Introduction. 2. Decentralized Trading over a Transmission Network. 3. Centralized Trading over a Transmission Network. 4. Further Reading. 5. Problems. 7. Investing in Generation. 1. Introduction. 2. Generation Capacity from an Investor's Perspective. 3. Generation Capacity from a Customer's Perspective. 4. Further Reading. 5. Problems. 8. Investing in Transmission. 1. Introduction. 2. The Nature of the Transmission Business. 3. Cost-based Transmission Expansion. 4. Value-based Transmission Expansion. 5. Further Reading. 6. Problems. Appendix: Answers to Selected Problems. Abbreviations and Acronyms. Index.

"...this is an interesting book that can help practicing electrical engineers and understand the basic economics behind the competitive electricity markets." (IEEE Power & Energy Magazine, July/August 2006) "...excellent textbook on this important area ... rightly emphasizes the broad principles underlying all the main electricity markets around the world." (International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 42:3, 2006)