Impacts of Institutional Transformations in Energy Markets: The Baikal Region of Russia

Abstract

The paper examines the evolution of institutional conditions in the electricity markets of the Baikal region from 2018 to 2023. The fundamental market conditions remained unchanged, however, the key changes followed the inclusion of the Republic of Buryatia and the Transbaikal Territory into the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD), which has a set of unique institutional frameworks designed to invigorate the economy. These include targeted measures aimed at improving economic accessibility of electricity by averaging tariffs on electricity and subsidizing expansion of networks through investment support and leveraging the infrastructure available in the advanced development areas. Features of regional energy system of the Baikal region are analyzed comparatively. The regional power systems of the Transbaikal Territory and Buryatia are technologically inferior to those of their neighbors (the Irkutsk Region in the Siberian Federal District and southern regions of the Far Eastern Federal District). This technological disparity can be attributed to several key factors: a heavy reliance on thermal power plants, extensive wear and tear on infrastructure, and inadequate development of low-voltage networks. The study also examines the scale, structure, and dynamics of electricity consumption in the Baikal region and estimates economic accessibility of electricity for local population. Although the Republic of Buryatia and the Transbaikal Territory have comparable income levels and higher tariffs than Irkutsk Region, they experience the lowest electricity accessibility among all subjects of the Far Eastern Federal District. These data indicate that Buryatia and the Transbaikal Territory lack any significant competitive advantages in energy accessibility when compared to their neighboring areas.