Rafal Nagaj

University of Szczecin, Poland wasik@wneiz.pl

Changes in the regulation of the electricity sector

as a factor in stimulating economic development in Poland in 2000-2014

Abstract. Since the beginning of systemic and economic transformation in Poland in the 90s, there have been rapid institutional, restructuring and regulatory changes in the electricity sector. State monopoly has been replaced by a regulation for competition and the sub-sectors of manufacturing and trading have been subjected to liberalization processes. Due to the socio-economic importance of electricity, regulatory changes made in the electricity sector may be a stimulant or destimulant for Polish economic development. The article is an attempt at an assessment of the changes that have taken place in the electricity sector and of the impact of it on Polish economic growth. The analysis showed that regulatory changes had a negative effect on the level of prices for industrial customers and the level of economic growth, and has been beneficial from the point of view of investment and environmental protection.

Received: December, 2015

1st Revision: February, 2015

Accepted: March, 2016

DOI: 10.14254/2071-8330.2016/9-1/8

JEL Classification: L5; L43; L94; L16; O40

Keywords: state interventionism, sectoral regulation, electricity market, pricing, economic growth