How are public utilities responding to electricity market restructuring and the energy transition? Lessons from Israel.

Public utilities in the electricity sector globally face increasing competition in the power generation segment, specifically considering government liberalization reforms that facilitate the clean energy transition process. Although the utilities may significantly impact this process, the literature has thus far neglected the perceptible strategies they employ to cope with the emerging competition, particularly with regard to renewable energy resources. This study addresses the lacuna by focusing on the case of Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), demonstrating how the coping strategies employed by this public utility evolved over time and thus shaped the local electricity sector. • Public utilities in the electricity sector are facing increasing competition. • This competition often goes hand in hand with the energy transition process. • The study explores what coping mechanisms public utilities employ in response to this process. • The qualitative case study focuses on the Israeli Electric Corporation. • The study demonstrates the evolution of the coping mechanisms over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]