PRIVATISATION OF THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM: A MODEL FOR CHINA'S POWER SECTOR?

China's power sector is likely to encounter considerable difficulty meeting its immediate challenges without substantial restructuring. The experience of the UK electricity industry holds a number of important lessons for China, both positive and negative. Wholesale privatisation of China's power industry is inappropriate at present because of the presence of formidable political and institutional obstacles. However elements of the restructuring of both the industry and the market in the UK may be applicable in China.