Publication by Thorsten Reppert in Local Government Studies

We are pleased to announce a new publication by our PhD student, Thorsten Reppert. His article, “Back to the Future? An Analysis of Party Influence on Electricity Grid Remunicipalisation in Germany”, has recently been published in the journal Local Government Studies.

In his study, Thorsten Reppert explores how political factors shape decisions to remunicipalise electricity grids in Germany. Drawing on a dataset covering around 2,000 municipalities, he tests partisan theory to determine whether the strength of political parties at the local level influences the transfer of electricity grids back into municipal ownership.

The study identifies a cautious shift towards remunicipalisation of electricity grids in Germany since the 2010s, although private operators are still more widespread. Interestingly, the strength of left-wing or green parties plays only a minor role in this trend. Instead, factors such as population size, financial resources, and variations in local political institutions prove to be more influential. The study highlights the crucial role of local governments in shaping energy policy, particularly in the context of upcoming grid contract renewals and the energy transition.

You can access the study here: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/PRGWERBISGIQZTRDRUHQ/full?target=10.1080/03003930.2024.2424811