Three-part auctions versus self-commitment in day-ahead electricity markets

We examine the economic consequences of a bid-based security-constrained centralized unit commitment paradigm based on three-part offers, which is the prevalent day-ahead market-clearing mechanism in restructured electricity markets in the United States. We then compare this approach with an energy-only auction with self-commitment (such as in Australia) addressing efficiency and pricing as well as the tradeoff between coordination losses and incentives to bid truthfully.