The switching behavior of large-scale electricity consumers in The Turkish electricity retail market

Erdogan M. R., METİN CAMGÖZ S., KARAN M. B., BERUMENT M. H.

ENERGY POLICY, cilt.160, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 160
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112701
  • Dergi Adı: ENERGY POLICY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, PASCAL, ABI/INFORM, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, EconLit, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, INSPEC, PAIS International, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Energy markets, Switching supplier, Business economics and logit model, COMPETITION, SATISFACTION, INERTIA, CHOICE, COSTS, POWER
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This paper studies the effects of various economic and psychological factors on the switching behavior of largescale electricity consumers in Turkey. Switching frequency and switching direction are two variables used to analyze switching behavior. The former is concerned with how often retailers change their suppliers. On the other hand, switching direction measures the direction of switching preferences of consumers between two electricity suppliers since the incumbent has a brand advantage over new suppliers that creates inertia and may reduce competition in the market. The target group of this study is large-scale electricity consumers rather than residential consumers since the switching activities of large-scale consumers are more competitive. We employ a five-point Likert scale questionnaire to construct eight psychological and economic factors to explain switching activities. The estimates indicate that improving service quality and providing essential services are the main motivations for switching decisions. Satisfaction with primary services, the homogeneity of the retail electricity market, and switching costs enhance the status quo; however, clarity of contracts and assistance for electricity distribution services (maintenance, metering, billing, etc.) affect the switching activities.