The report introduces Datamonitor's proprietary Market Competitive Intensity index - an innovative tool for analyzing and classifying energy markets. This tool is then used to model energy market competitor environment and help devise utilities' long-term business strategies.

• Analysis is based on 9 key metrics - some rooted in hard market data such as utilities' market shares, others quantifying more elusive market aspects.
• Initially, 6 key European power markets are analyzed, although the underlying methodology is applicable also to gas and to smaller geographic markets.
• Applied analysis is based on Datamonitor expert consensus, although scope exists to supplement that with executive and other industry opinion.
• The current product is the first part in a product series which will track the development of European energy utility markets over time.

Of the 6 largest European energy markets, the UK's is the most competitive (both in I&C and residential supply), with the Netherlands moving in the same direction albeit with several years' lag. The other key markets do not yet allow effective competition in end-user supply, although Spain and Italy are approaching the competitive status.

The key factor in achieving high competitive intensity is having an energy market regulator that is highly committed and aggressive, with high staffing and resource levels, working towards customer switching targets and pursuing objectives that are related to social benefit and security of supply.

As well as the more familiar themes of Third Party Access and robustness of regulation, other key factors in creating a competitive environment include an effective mechanism for data transfer and balancing, as well as a mature traded market (in previously monopoly markets, this includes the existence of gas release / capacity auction programmes).

• The report brings together, in a structured and unified fashion, all the key factors that allow an accurate assessment of a given energy market.
• The report is packaged with an interactive Excel-based market model that allows the reader to adapt the MCI framework to his/her own opinions.
• The MCI model developed in the report is applicable to all geographies and energy market segments, and allows to track evolution of a market over time