Consolidating the new regulatory state in Germany? The new energy regime of 2005

It is the purpose of this article to describe and analyse recent developments of the new regulatory state in Germany. Due to substantial changes in the regime governing energy regulation in 2005, it is suggested that we witness a trend towards consolidation. By consolidation, the article refers primarily to cross-sectoral institutional and instrumental homogeneity, possibly caused by the transfer of regime elements from sector to sector. It is argued that both traditions of state-societal co-operation as well as sector structures (i.e., incumbent suppliers) are key factors to explain regime emergence and change also in the energy sector.