POLITICAL DETERMINANTS OF RATES IN ELECTRIC UTILITIES

The authors undertake an empirical examination of the hypothesized relationship between political variables and regulatory commission behavior (i.e., utility rate levels). Focusing on five political variables, they find evidence to support the argument that political factors do effect electric utility rates. They find commissioner terms of office and number of commissioners to be significantly, related to rate levels and offer explanations for contrary findings. Copyright 1982 by The Policy Studies Organization.