François Mirabel

Universal service obligations: The role of subsidization schemes

This paper (i) highlights the role that unit subsidies can play in the compensation scheme of a Universal Service Obligation (USO), and (ii) shows that welfare may be reduced when regulation requires accounting separation of network activities for vertically integrated USO providers. This suggests that accounting separation should be avoided when a USO is implemented.

Natural Gas Storage and Market Power

Within the context of an evolving global market for natural gas and restructuring efforts in the European market, gas storage is an important element. Providing additional flexibility, promoting competition, and enhancing supply security are crucial factors for natural gas sector liberalization. Storage in Europe has come to the center of the energy policy debate mainly due to very cold temperatures in winter 2005/06 and gas price increases during that time period. This book covers four main topics: development of commercial storage; access regulation; capacity allocation and market power; storage and security of gas supply. Each Chapter puts forth an innovative analytical model discussed or applied to realistically explain specific issues in one of the four biggest European gas consuming countries (France, Germany, Italy and the UK).