47 ( ) , . , , . , . . E-mail: fiw712@mail.ru . , , « , ». » « . , . , ». . ; : ; ; ; ; : 334.012 Annotation. The article deals with the evolution of theoretical approaches to the investigation of models of public utility enterprises functioning by the example of electricity. In particular, it is shown that competition which existed at the initial stage of the electricity branch development led to the formation of vertically integrated companies due to the technological specifics. In the early 20th century these companies became the subject of state regulation, which led to the emergence of the model of «natural monopoly». The current stage of technological development of the electricity branch and the introduction of competition principles in the generation and distribution of electricity determined the transition from a «natural monopoly» to the model of «competitive market». But in order to state the criteria for optimal functioning and regulation of the electricity branch one needs some other approach due to the technological specifics of the given branch. Keywords: electricity; natural monopoly; vertical integration; contestable markets; public utilities; government regulation , . , , , , . « » 1, 2013 www.theoreticaleconomy.info . 48 , , . , . . , « », . « » , . [1] . , . , , . , , . , , – . , – , . , , , , . , , - . , , . , 50 60 . , . , , , - , , . , . 70-80 . XIX . – . , , – - , . « » 1, 2013 www.theoreticaleconomy.info 49 . 80- XIX . , . 1882 . 500 , , [2, . 126]. (1-1,5 110 ) . , . , , . 1892 . [2, . 126]. ( ) XIX – XX . . : , , , , [3], 1 , , (Samuel Insull) [3] , , , , , . XIX – , , , XX , . . , , . , ( ) . , . , , , . XIX XIX . . , , , . « » 1, 2013 www.theoreticaleconomy.info . 50 ( , ) . « « » , . . » . , , « , . , » . , , « » , « » , ., , , . , XX ., , . , . XIX . , , ». « XX . , . , , . « . « 1 10-12 . » « » » , « » , , , . « ) ( » « » , . , , , , . . 1914 . , , . , « » » («Social Economics»), « , . . , « » : . . . , . . , « « « », . . » , 1, 2013 » . www.theoreticaleconomy.info 51 . , . . , , ( ). . , , » « , , . « 1920–1970 » . , , , . . . « » [5, ( 1927 . 47-61], ) , . 1929 « , . 1935 . », , - , « , » , , . « , » , . , , . , , , . , . , , , . , : (allocative fficiency), (productive fficiency), ,« fficiency) . » ,« (distributional , » . « » 1, 2013 www.theoreticaleconomy.info . 52 : . , . , , . , XX . . . « » , ». ( ) [6], . , , » , , . , XIX , ( ) . . , , , . , , , . , « , » – , . , , , , « » . , . , . , . XX «… , , , » [7]. , [2, . 126]. , , : «... (0,942)» [8, . 654]. , , ( , ), . , , . . , , (15-17%) [9] , « . » 1, 2013 www.theoreticaleconomy.info 53 . - , , . , , , . , « » » , , . , , - . 1. . ./ 2. 3. 4. . , . .– : , 1988. – 616 . .: .- . // .ru [ ]. – infrastrukturnie-prioriteti-evropeyskogo-soiuza-v-sfere-energetiki. . ] / . , lib.rosenergoservis.ru/vvedenie-v-energetiky.html. . . 1950-1985 / . : http://www.alleuropa.ru/novie- . . . [ ] / . http://lib.rosenergoservis.ru/vvedenie-v-energetiky.html. . – : http:// . 5. – .: . , 2006. – 126 . . – , . : . – . / : . . 6. Baumol W.J. 1982. Contestable markets: an uprising in the theory of industry structure // American Economic Review 72(1), March, 1–15. 7. Emergence of Electrical Utilities in America [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access: http:// americanhistory.si.edu/powering/past/h1main.htm. 8. Evans H. Who Made America? Innovators. Samuel Insull [Electronic resource] / H. Evans. – Mode of access: URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/insull_hi.html. 9. Ramsey F.P. (1927). A Contribution to the Theory of Taxation // Economic Journal. – Vol. 37. – 145. – P. 47–61. « » 1, 2013 www.theoreticaleconomy.info