Tim Brennan
Senior Fellow
Tim Brennan is a senior fellow at RFF and professor emeritus at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's School of Public Policy. He has been a staff economist with the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and a non-resident adviser to the Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Economics. He has served as the senior economist for industrial organization and regulation with the White House Council of Economic Advisers and chief economist at the Federal Communications Commission. He has also held the T.D. MacDonald Chair in Industrial Economics at the Canadian Competition Bureau.
His primary research interests are regulatory economics and competition policy, with applications to the electricity, telecommunications, and postal sectors. He has over 140 articles and chapters in academic journals and books. His recent energy-related work for RFF has included analyses of utility control of customer electricity use and tensions between generation competition and long-run transmission planning. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics and a PhD in economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Education
- PhD in economics, University of Wisconsin, 1978
- MA in mathematics, University of Wisconsin, 1975
- BA in mathematics, University of Maryland, 1973
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Resources Magazine — May 16, 2024
Long-Term Transmission Planning? Be Careful
Economy-wide decarbonization requires large-scale decarbonization of the electricity sector. Hence, large-scale advance planning to expand transmission capacity and boost renewable power sources may be needed. But let’s look at trade-offs to be navigated.
Working Paper — Oct 20, 2023
The Persistence of Volumetric Pricing
This working paper paper analyzes the concept of fixed costs in electricity distribution, distribution cost recovery, and the persistence of volumetric pricing in regulated industries.
Working Paper — Aug 8, 2022
Is Transmission Expansion for Decarbonization Compatible with Generation Competition?
Is Transmission Expansion for Decarbonization Compatible with Generation Competition?
Journal Article — Feb 18, 2021
Customer-Side Energy Management: What Role Should Utilities Play?
Customer-Side Energy Management: What Role Should Utilities Play?
Working Paper — Oct 20, 2023
The Persistence of Volumetric Pricing
This working paper paper analyzes the concept of fixed costs in electricity distribution, distribution cost recovery, and the persistence of volumetric pricing in regulated industries.
Working Paper — Aug 8, 2022
Is Transmission Expansion for Decarbonization Compatible with Generation Competition?
Is Transmission Expansion for Decarbonization Compatible with Generation Competition?
Journal Article — Feb 18, 2021
Customer-Side Energy Management: What Role Should Utilities Play?
Customer-Side Energy Management: What Role Should Utilities Play?
Working Paper — Jan 13, 2021
Customer-Side Energy Management: What Role Should Utilities Play?
Customer-Side Energy Management: What Role Should Utilities Play?
Resources Magazine — May 16, 2024
Long-Term Transmission Planning? Be Careful
Economy-wide decarbonization requires large-scale decarbonization of the electricity sector. Hence, large-scale advance planning to expand transmission capacity and boost renewable power sources may be needed. But let’s look at trade-offs to be navigated.
Common Resources — Jan 28, 2021
Striking Down the Affordable Clean Energy Rule Helps—But Does Not Guarantee—Ambitious Climate Policy
A circuit court striking down the Trump administration’s Affordable Clean Energy rule opens avenues for the Biden administration to pursue climate policy, but forthcoming efforts will need to contend with a skeptical Supreme Court.
Common Resources — Jan 13, 2021
Should Utilities Manage How Your Appliances Use Energy?
Although involving utilities in customer-side electricity management could reduce competition in the market for managing customer energy use, RFF scholar Tim Brennan notes that the idea may prompt positive outcomes as well.
Common Resources — Dec 14, 2018
Do Generator Subsidies Create a Problem with Electricity Capacity Markets?
Although some RTOs believe state-subsidized generators distort capacity markets, such subsidies can be efficient and reduce RTOs’ costs of procurin...
Media Highlight — Jan 14, 2021
Experts Assess Feasibility of Biden 100% Clean Energy Plan
Experts Assess Feasibility of Biden 100% Clean Energy Plan
Media Highlight — Oct 17, 2017
Generate: Snapshots from the new FERC battle
Generate: Snapshots from the new FERC battle
Media Highlight — Jul 26, 2017
Electricity Market Deregulation: Changing Prices and Renewable Energy Sources
Electricity Market Deregulation: Changing Prices and Renewable Energy Sources
Media Highlight — Feb 24, 2009
Obama Stresses Energy Investment but Policy Battles Loom
Obama Stresses Energy Investment but Policy Battles Loom