Electricity Retailer Market: An Empirical Analysis Based on a Comparison Purchase Website

The progressive liberalization process of the Italian electricity market, initiated in the 1990s and culminating in the complete opening of the retail market, has profoundly transformed the purchasing mechanisms of energy by end consumers. Within this context, the thesis systematically analyzes the evolution of the competitive structure of the Italian electricity market, focusing in particular on the switching dynamics of residential customers and on the strategies adopted by the main operators, including online comparison platforms. After reviewing the main regulatory milestones of liberalization and describing the structural and behavioral characteristics of energy markets, the work concentrates on the role of comparison platforms as tools to reduce information asymmetries, assessing their potential impact on consumer mobility. The analysis also explores the role of the regulatory authority through initiatives such as the Portale Offerte, aimed at promoting transparency and user awareness. To complement the qualitative analysis, the final chapter offers a statistical examination of consumer switching behavior, applying econometric models to estimate the probability of changing suppliers based on socio-demographic and territorial variables. In particular, it assesses differences in switching propensity across age groups, geographic areas (North, Center, and South of Italy), and income levels, using payment method as a proxy for the customers’ economic conditions. The expected results aim to highlight significant territorial and generational heterogeneity, as well as to provide useful insights for more effective and targeted policies supporting competition.