Energy Policy, Vol.29, No.13, 1119-1132, 2001
Privatizing and liberalizing electricity, the case of Hungary
Hungary, a forerunner in Eastern reforms, has boldly privatized its energy sector with foreign capital. While in the West liberalization resulted in electricity abundance and dramatical tariff cuts, in Hungary as a result of asymmetric market opening it brought excess capacites, transparent cost base prices, but lower tariffs are still ahead. Foreign investors made the branch profitable and are planning to expand capacities.