Kumulative Dissertation, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2025

In recent years, the remunicipalization of essential services has gained momentum as a countertrend to previous privatization efforts. This reversal has been particularly examined in the public and academic debate through the lens of the German energy sector. However, there is ongoing disagreement about the factors driving this supposed shift from private to public ownership. This dissertation contributes to the discussion by contributing three studies focused on Germany’s local electricity grids. Their findings suggest that remunicipalization follows a functionally driven and limited trajectory rather than a politically motivated, grassroots-based transformative shift.
In doing so, this dissertation makes several key contributions to the broader research field. By compiling a novel and comprehensive dataset on the ownership of electricity distribution grids in Germany, it enables for the first time a quantitative analysis of public versus private ownership patterns within the country. The results indicate that private ownership remains dominant, with only a cautious return to public control. Additionally, an analysis of the influence of local political party strength shows that institutional, financial, and economic context factors play a more significant role in remunicipalization decisions than political affili-ation. This conclusion is further supported by case studies of three municipalities, which highlight cross-ideological compromises as a crucial factor for successful remunicipalization.
By integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, collecting primary data, examining cases beyond major metropolitan areas, and considering both political and contextual economic factors, this dissertation addresses several gaps in prior research. The results suggest that previous interpretations of remunicipalization as a grassroots-driven transformation may stem from these limitations, giving only a limited picture of the overall trend.
Beyond its academic contributions, this research also provides valuable insights for practitioners, offering guidance for future decision-making. Furthermore, it touches on the broader debate about the relationship between state and market, particularly in the context of the energy transition, the aftermath of the global financial crisis, and ongoing disruptions in trade and security. The dissertation remains skeptical about whether local initiatives alone can drive a fundamental shift in the role of the public sector. Instead, it implies that remunicipalization is largely a functional adjustment process, shaped by national and global political developments. As such, it remains open whether current global developments will lead to a sustained pendulum swing back to public ownership at the local level and beyond, necessitating additional research on the topic.