One study analyzed economics of scale in the Swiss electricity distribution industry using a cross-sectional sample of 39 publicly owned companies serving 130 cities over the period 1988-91. The results found economics of scale to be present for small, medium-sized, and large estimated that the cost elasticity of output was less than one. The measure indicated that a I percent increase in the delivery of power increased variable costs by 0.86 percent. The author concludes that findings point to a possible decrease in costs of electricity distribution through a consolidation of local utilities.