of energy supply. Mainly gas/oil?

How are the existing energy companies competing exactly and can a free market system work without real competition?

Wouldn't the walmart of energy and so forth be considered the Citgo's of the world?

Citgo is a drop in the bucket compared to Valero.....

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Most of the world's crises can be tracked back to the fact that WE HAVE TOO MANY LAWYERS.
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Without women, money would have no meaning......Aristotle Onassis.

I think you're taking the wrong track. Walmart has used cut throat business practices to squeeze out the competition by cutting costs and selling for less. Many suppliers need to sell to walmart to stay alive because walmart has closed down other distributors. Meanwhile this allows walmart to play hardball when it comes to getting the prices they desire. They then turn around and sell for less.

So I'm asking why is this not happening in the world of energy supply/demand. Is there competition? Is there a free market for energy?

"How are the existing energy companies competing exactly and can a free market system work without real competition?"

>>>Puleeze - there is no market system in the energy industry. Just piggy capitalism, which is a totally different concept.