Ex post monitoring of market power in hydro dominated electricity markets

The paper presents a proposed market monitoring procedure that takes into account the special features of an electricity market dominated by hydropower. Specifically, we present a method to assess water values and a set of indicators that can be used to screen the market for suspicious price formation. We then use the suggested monitoring procedure to evaluate actual price formation in the Nordic Electricity Market during the (hydrological) year 2002/2003 when precipitation failed and spot prices at the electricity exchange Nord Pool hit an all-time high.