Bio

Frank A. Wolak is the Holbrook Working Professor of Commodity Price Studies in the Department of Economics and the Director of the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development at Stanford University. His research and teaching focuses on design, performance, and monitoring of energy and environmental markets. He served as Chair of the Market Surveillance Committee (MSC) of the California Independent System Operator and was a member of the Emissions Market Advisory Committee (EMAC) for California’s Market for Greenhouse Gas Emissions allowances.

Academic Appointments

Program Affiliations

  • Center for Latin American Studies
  • Public Policy

Contact

  • Academic
    WOLAK@ZIA.STANFORD.EDU
    University - Faculty Department: Economics Position: Professor
    • Economics Bldg 363
    • Stanford,  California  94305-6072 
    (650) 725-5702 (fax)
    University - Faculty Department: Program on Energy and Sustainable Developmen Position: FSI Senior Fellow (650) 725-5702 (fax)

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 6055

Links

Projects

  • Field Experiment on Effectiveness of Information Provision on Household Energy Consumption in Mexico, Stanford University (6/17/2015 - Present)

    Field experiment to assess the impact of providing household in Mexico with information about how electricity-consuming actions translate into additional costs on their bi-monthly electricity bill given that Mexican households face a highly nonlinear tariff where the marginal price for additional consumption can differ significantly from the average price paid for consumption.
    Experimental intervention involves an educational survey that alerts customers to where they are on the nonlinear price schedule, a survey of their appliance stock, and information on electricity consuming actions that have the greatest impact on the household's bi-monthly electricity bill.

    Location

    Puebla, Mexico

    Collaborators

    • Mark Thurber, Independent Labs, Institutes, and Centers (Dean of Research)
  • Field Experiment on the Effectiveness on In-Home Displays on Household Electricity Consumption in Singapore, Stanford University (7/1/2014 - Present)

    This experiment assess the impact of the installation of an in-home display that presents real-time information on the household's electricity consumption, their cumulative monthly bill, and current price of electricity on the household's consumption of electricity. This experiment randomly assigned households in a district of Singapore in-home displays and compared their consumption to a set of similar "control" households.

    Location

    Singapore

    For More Information:

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • Market Design in an Intermittent Renewable Future Cost Recovery With Zero-Marginal-Cost Resources IEEE POWER & ENERGY MAGAZINE Wolak, F. A. 2021; 19 (1): 29–40

    View details for DOI 10.1109/MPE.2020.3033395

    View details for Web of Science ID 000607416200005

  • (Machine) learning from the COVID-19 lockdown about electricity market performance with a large share of renewables JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT Graf, C., Quaglia, F., Wolak, F. A. 2021; 105

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jeem.2020.102398

    View details for Web of Science ID 000607089900003

  • Increasing the energy cognizance of electricity consumers in Mexico: Results from a field experiment JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT Stojanovski, O., Leslie, G. W., Wolak, F. A., Huerta Wong, J., Thurber, M. C. 2020; 102

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jeem.2020.102323

    View details for Web of Science ID 000541257200002

  • Optimal offer-bid strategy of an energy storage portfolio: A linear quasi-relaxation approach APPLIED ENERGY Tomasson, E., Hesamzadeh, M., Wolak, F. A. 2020; 260

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114251

    View details for Web of Science ID 000515108700095

  • Expecting the Unexpected: Emissions Uncertainty and Environmental Market Design AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW Borenstein, S., Bushnell, J., Wolak, F. A., Zaragoza-Watkins, M. 2019; 109 (11): 3953–77

    View details for DOI 10.1257/aer.20161218

    View details for Web of Science ID 000493562800008

  • The benefits of purely financial participants for wholesale and retail market performance: lessons for long-term resource adequacy mechanism design OXFORD REVIEW OF ECONOMIC POLICY Wolak, F. A. 2019; 35 (2): 260–90

    View details for DOI 10.1093/oxrep/grz007

    View details for Web of Science ID 000493122400005

  • The Role of Efficient Pricing in Enabling a Low-Carbon Electricity Sector ECONOMICS OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Wolak, F. A. 2019; 8 (2): 49–72

    View details for DOI 10.5547/2160-5890.8.2.fwol

    View details for Web of Science ID 000486346500004

  • Comparing auction designs where suppliers have uncertain costs and uncertain pivotal status RAND JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS Holmberg, P., Wolak, F. A. 2018; 49 (4): 995–1027

    View details for DOI 10.1111/1756-2171.12259

    View details for Web of Science ID 000449947600008

  • Rural energy access through solar home systems: Use patterns and opportunities for improvement ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Stojanovski, O., Thurber, M., Wolak, F. 2017; 37: 33-50

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.esd.2016.11.003

    View details for Web of Science ID 000397701000004

  • Freight Rail Costing and Regulation: The Uniform Rail Costing System REVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION Wilson, W. W., Wolak, F. A. 2016; 49 (2): 229-261

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11151-016-9523-2

    View details for Web of Science ID 000380797900005

  • Measuring the competitiveness benefits of a transmission investment policy: The case of the Alberta electricity market ENERGY POLICY Wolak, F. A. 2015; 85: 426-444

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.05.024

    View details for Web of Science ID 000365361100041

  • Environmental economics. An economic perspective on the EPA's Clean Power Plan. Science Fowlie, M., Goulder, L., Kotchen, M., Borenstein, S., Bushnell, J., Davis, L., Greenstone, M., Kolstad, C., Knittel, C., Stavins, R., Wara, M., Wolak, F., Wolfram, C. 2014; 346 (6211): 815-816

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.1261349

    View details for PubMedID 25395524

  • Do Residential Customers Respond to Hourly Prices? Evidence from a Dynamic Pricing Experiment AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW Wolak, F. A. 2011; 101 (3): 83-87

    View details for DOI 10.1257/aer.101.3.83

    View details for Web of Science ID 000291150300015

  • Measuring the Benefits of Greater Spatial Granularity in Short-Term Pricing in Wholesale Electricity Markets AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW Wolak, F. A. 2011; 101 (3): 247-252

    View details for DOI 10.1257/aer.101.3.247

    View details for Web of Science ID 000291150300048

  • Using restructured electricity supply industries to understand oligopoly industry outcomes UTILITIES POLICY Wolak, F. A. 2010; 18 (4): 227-246

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jup.2010.09.002

    View details for Web of Science ID 000289915000008

  • Upstream vs. downstream CO2 trading: A comparison for the electricity context ENERGY POLICY Hobbs, B. F., Bushnell, J., Wolak, F. A. 2010; 38 (7): 3632-3643

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2010.02.040

    View details for Web of Science ID 000278843700053

  • When It Comes to Demand Response, Is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission its Own Worst Enemy? The Electricity Journal Bushnell, J., Hobbs, B. F., Wolak , F. 2009; 22 (8): 9-18
  • Relative prices and electronic substitution: Changes in household-level demand for postal delivery services from 1986 to 2004 JOURNAL OF ECONOMETRICS Hong, S., Wolak, F. A. 2008; 145 (1-2): 226-242

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jeconom.2008.05.003

    View details for Web of Science ID 000259659500015

  • Reforming the Indian Electricity Supply Industry Sustaining India's Growth Miracle Wolak , F. Columbia Business School. 2008
  • Quantifying the supply-side benefits from forward contracting in wholesale electricity markets 15th European Conference of the Econometrics Community Wolak, F. A. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2007: 1179–1209

    View details for DOI 10.1002/jae.989

    View details for Web of Science ID 000252453700003

  • Benefit-cost analysis of large-scale transmission for renewable generation: Principles & California Case Study IEEE-Power-Engineering-Society General Meeting Casey, K. E., Hobbs, B. F., Shirmohammadi, D., Wolak, F. A. IEEE. 2007: 2929–2931

    View details for Web of Science ID 000251345402161

  • The California ISO transmission economic assessment methodology (TEAM): Principles and application to path 26 2006 POWER ENGINEERING SOCIETY GENERAL MEETING, VOLS 1-9 Awad, M., Broad, S., Casey, K. E., Chen, J., Geevarghese, A. S., Miller, J. C., Perez, A. J., Hobbs, B. F., Wolak, F. A. 2006: 2717-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000247080003038

  • Measuring and managing unilateral market power in electricity IEEE-Power-Engineering-Society General Meeting Wolak, F. A. IEEE. 2005: 2028–2028

    View details for Web of Science ID 000232799401194

  • Measuring unilateral market power in wholesale electricity markets: The California market, 1998-2000 115th Annual Meeting of the American-Economic-Association Wolak, F. A. AMER ECONOMIC ASSOC. 2003: 425–30

    View details for Web of Science ID 000183357400074

  • Measuring market inefficiencies in California's restructured wholesale electricity market AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW Borenstein, S., BUSHNELL, J. B., WOLAK, F. A. 2002; 92 (5): 1376-1405

    View details for Web of Science ID 000180306100006

  • Market design and price behavior in restructured electricity markets - An international comparison 8th National Bureau of Economic Research East Asia Seminar on Economics WOLAK, F. A. UNIV CHICAGO PRESS. 2000: 79–137

    View details for Web of Science ID 000087710900004

  • Changes in the household-level demand for postal delivery services from 1986 to 1994 4th Bi-Annual Conference on Postal and Delivery Services WOLAK, F. A. KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS. 1997: 162–191

    View details for Web of Science ID A1997BJ83K00008

  • Electronic substitution in the household-level demand for postal delivery services 24th Annual Telecommunications Policy Research Conference WOLAK, F. A. LAWRENCE ERLBAUM ASSOC PUBL. 1997: 155–179

    View details for Web of Science ID A1997BJ72U00009

  • The welfare impacts of competitive telecommunications supply: A household-level analysis BROOKINGS PAPERS ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WOLAK, F. A. 1996: 269-350

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996WH87500006

  • Why do firms simultaneously purchase in spot and contract markets? Evidence from the United States steam coal market Conference on Agricultural Markets - Mechanisms, Failures and Regulations WOLAK, F. A. ELSEVIER SCIENCE PUBL B V. 1996: 109–168

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996BG57H00005

  • MEASURING INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC PROTECTION - ANTIDUMPING IN THE UNITED-STATES BROOKINGS PAPERS ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY Staiger, R. W., WOLAK, F. A. 1994: 51-118

    View details for Web of Science ID A1994NX79100002

  • A PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATING THE UNCONDITIONAL CUMULATIVE INCIDENCE CURVE AND ITS VARIABILITY FOR THE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS APPLIED STATISTICS-JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY SERIES C Hay, J. W., WOLAK, F. A. 1994; 43 (4): 599-624

    View details for Web of Science ID A1994PJ89300003

  • COLLUSIVE PRICING WITH CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS IN THE PRESENCE OF DEMAND UNCERTAINTY RAND JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS Staiger, R. W., WOLAK, F. A. 1992; 23 (2): 203-220

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992JC04200004

  • THE EFFECT OF DOMESTIC ANTIDUMPING LAW IN THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN MONOPOLY JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS Staiger, R. W., WOLAK, F. A. 1992; 32 (3-4): 265-287

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992HY06800004

  • THE LOCAL NATURE OF HYPOTHESIS TESTS INVOLVING INEQUALITY CONSTRAINTS IN NONLINEAR MODELS ECONOMETRICA WOLAK, F. A. 1991; 59 (4): 981-995

    View details for Web of Science ID A1991FW51500005

  • A MODEL OF HOMOGENEOUS INPUT DEMAND UNDER PRICE UNCERTAINTY AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW WOLAK, F. A., Kolstad, C. D. 1991; 81 (3): 514-538

    View details for Web of Science ID A1991FP88800008

  • TESTING INEQUALITY CONSTRAINTS IN LINEAR ECONOMETRIC-MODELS JOURNAL OF ECONOMETRICS WOLAK, F. A. 1989; 41 (2): 205-235

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989AA18000002

  • LOCAL AND GLOBAL TESTING OF LINEAR AND NONLINEAR INEQUALITY CONSTRAINTS IN NONLINEAR ECONOMETRIC-MODELS ECONOMETRIC THEORY WOLAK, F. A. 1989; 5 (1): 1-35

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989U048700001

  • MEASURING RELATIVE MARKET POWER IN THE WESTERN UNITED-STATES COAL MARKET USING SHAPLEY VALUES RESOURCES AND ENERGY WOLAK, F. A., Kolstad, C. D. 1988; 10 (4): 293-314

    View details for Web of Science ID A1988T809700002

  • DUALITY IN TESTING MULTIVARIATE HYPOTHESES BIOMETRIKA WOLAK, F. A. 1988; 75 (3): 611-615

    View details for Web of Science ID A1988Q382000027

  • AN EXACT TEST FOR MULTIPLE INEQUALITY AND EQUALITY CONSTRAINTS IN THE LINEAR-REGRESSION MODEL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION WOLAK, F. A. 1987; 82 (399): 782-793

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987K240900014

  • CONJECTURAL VARIATION AND THE INDETERMINACY OF DUOPOLISTIC EQUILIBRIA CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS-REVUE CANADIENNE D ECONOMIQUE Kolstad, C. D., WOLAK, F. A. 1986; 19 (4): 656-677

    View details for Web of Science ID A1986F179600004