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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


Fusions in the Danish District Heating Sector

Author

Term

10. term

Publication year

2016

Submitted on

Pages

75

Abstract

Dette speciale analyserer selskabsfusioner i den danske fjernvarmesektor med fokus på deres betydning for forbrugerpriser. Med udgangspunkt i nationale prisstatistikker opdeles fjernvarmeselskaber i prisintervaller, og udviklingen i antallet af forsyningsområder og fusioner beskrives. Fusioner i den undersøgte periode kortlægges, og der vurderes, om og hvordan priserne ændrede sig i de berørte områder. Tilgangen kombinerer kvantitative prisdata med kvalitative indsigter fra interview og korrespondance med brancheaktører og går i dybden med fire cases (Aars, Gauerslund, Grevinge/Herrestrup under Odsherred Forsyning og Hammel), hvor både forbrugerpriser og selskabsomkostninger belyses. Resultaterne indikerer, at der er gennemført adskillige fusioner i de senere år; den hyppigste motivation har været at finde løsninger, der kan sænke forbrugerpriserne. Dette er lykkedes i de fleste tilfælde, men sammenhængen mellem fusioner og priser er kompleks og varierer mellem områder, hvilket peger på behovet for kontekstspecifik vurdering.

This thesis examines company mergers in the Danish district heating sector with a focus on their effects on consumer prices. Drawing on national price statistics, the study groups district heating companies into price ranges and describes developments in the number of supply areas and mergers. Mergers during the study period are mapped, and the analysis assesses whether and how prices changed in the affected districts. The approach combines quantitative price data with qualitative insights from interviews and correspondence with sector stakeholders, and includes four in-depth cases (Aars, Gauerslund, Grevinge/Herrestrup within Odsherred Forsyning, and Hammel) that consider both consumer tariffs and company cost structures. The findings indicate that numerous mergers have been carried out in recent years; the most common motivation has been to identify ways to reduce consumer prices. This has been achieved in most cases, but the link between mergers and prices is complex and varies across districts, highlighting the need for context-specific assessment.

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