Retail electricity prices in Queensland have risen in nominal terms by 82% since 2006/07. The primary driver of these increases in retail charges has been network charges. The Government established the Independent Review Panel on Network Costs to assess the potential for reform of the government-owned electricity distribution and transmission corporations - Ergon Energy, Energex and Powerlink.
The main objective of this report is to present electricity and gas network cost data split into three components (investments, operation & maintenance - O&M, and system service costs) for the EU27 Member States and non-EU G20 countries, for 2010, 2014 and 2018 (chapter 1). The report also provides a high-level analysis regarding the regulatory frameworks used for setting the allowed revenues of system operators for 2018 and discusses possible structural under- or over-recovery of network costs (chapter 1). Then, network cost allocation parameters to network users are assessed for the EU27 Member States for the three years of focus (chapter 1), and some specific cost allocation practices applied in non-EU27 countries are presented (chapter 0).
Network costs (which cover the transmission and distribution of gas and electricity from power stations to households and industry) are a very significant component of household and industrial energy bills. Ofgem has created a new regulatory framework (RIIO) that was designed to ensure that costs were competitive and that profits weren't excessive, but there is clear evidence that network companies are making higher profits than expected. This suggests that the targets and incentives set by Ofgem are too low, barriers to market entry are high and that Ofgem needs to monitor RIIO more effectively and to equip RIIO with stronger, corrective measures. Ofgem has not yet created the conditions for the market to thrive and provide consumers with best value for money. In the short-term, market conditions can be improved if: (i) an interim independent audit of price controls is conducted; (ii) the 40-day notification period for price changes is increased to 15 months; and (iii) stronger, corrective measures are applied to companies that have received incentive payments for reducing leakages when such reductions have not taken place.
Electric Energy Systems, Second Edition provides an analysis of electric generation and transmission systems that addresses diverse regulatory issues. It includes fundamental background topics, such as load flow, short circuit analysis, and economic dispatch, as well as advanced topics, such as harmonic load flow, state estimation, voltage and frequency control, electromagnetic transients, etc. The new edition features updated material throughout the text and new sections throughout the chapters. It covers current issues in the industry, including renewable generation with associated control and scheduling problems, HVDC transmission, and use of synchrophasors (PMUs). The text explores more sophisticated protections and the new roles of demand, side management, etc. Written by internationally recognized specialists, the text contains a wide range of worked out examples along with numerous exercises and solutions to enhance understanding of the material. Features Integrates technical and economic analyses of electric energy systems. Covers HVDC transmission. Addresses renewable generation and the associated control and scheduling problems. Analyzes electricity markets, electromagnetic transients, and harmonic load flow. Features new sections and updated material throughout the text. Includes examples and solved problems.
Transport Pricing of Electricity Networks aims at providing a methodological and practical transmission tariff guide, to those who are involved in the electricity business as managers, engineers, lawyers, economists, regulators or policy-makers, but are not specialists in electricity transport, nor in tariff-setting for public utilities. It offers a synthesis of the recent economic research on the subject. The volume is divided into three major parts, each presenting a general aspect of transmission pricing: its legal and accounting background, its basic theory, and its implementation, successively. How much does it cost to transmit electricity from a nuclear plant close to Lyon in France, to a car manufacturer located in Stuttgart in Germany? What price should a system operator in Canada charge a pulp and paper mill that uses the high-voltage grid for only a few weeks per year? Where in California is it more profitable to reinforce or build a new transmission line? What is the best place to locate a power gas station in England, in order to pay the lowest transmission cost? Such questions are novel and crucial for American and European liberalised electricity markets. Transport Pricing of Electricity Networks shows how the economics toolbox can be used to answer them.
A "quick look up guide," Electricity Cost Modeling Calculations places the relevant formulae and calculations at the reader's finger tips. In this book, theories are explained in a nutshell and then the calculation is presented and solved in an illustrated, step-by-step fashion. A valuable guide for new engineers, economists (or forecasters), regulators, and policy makers who want to further develop their knowledge of best practice calculations techniques or experienced practitioners (and even managers) who desire to acquire more useful tips, this book offers expert advice for using such cost models to determine optimally-sized distribution systems and optimally-structured power supplying entities. In other words, this book provides an Everything-that-you-want-to-know-about-cost-modelling-for-electric-utilities (but were afraid to ask) approach to modelling the cost of supplying electricity. In addition, the author covers the concept of multiproduct and multistage cost functions, which are appropriate in modelling the cost of supplying electricity. The author has done all the heavy number-crunching, and provides the reader with real-world, practical examples of how to properly quantify the costs associated with providing electric service, thus increasing the accuracy of the results and support for the policy initiatives required to ensure the competitiveness of the power suppliers in this new world in which we are living. The principles contained herein could be employed to assist in the determination of the cost-minimizing amount of output (i.e., electricity), which could then be used to determine whether a merger between two entities makes sense (i.e., would increase profitability). Other examples abound: public regulatory commissions also need help in determining whether mergers (or divestitures) are welfare-enhancing or not; ratemaking policies depend on costs and properly determining the costs of supplying electric (or gas, water, and local telephone) service. Policy makers, too, can benefit in terms of optimal market structure; after all, the premise of deregulation of the electric industry was predicated on the idea that generation could be deregulated. Unfortunately, the economies of vertical integration between the generation. A comprehensive guide to the cost issues surrounding the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity Real-world examples that are practical, meaningful, and easy to understand Policy implications and suggestions to aid in the formation of the optimal market structure going forward (thus increasing efficiency of electric power suppliers) The principles contained herein could be employed to assist in the determination of the cost-minimizing amount of output
There is a need for fundamental changes in the ways society views electric energy. Electric energy must be treated as a commodity which can be bought, sold, and traded, taking into account its time-and space-varying values and costs. This book presents a complete framework for the establishment of such an energy marketplace. The framework is based on the use of spot prices. In general terms: o An hourly spot price (in dollars per kilowatt hour) reflects the operating and capital costs of generating, transmitting and distributing electric energy. It varies each hour and from place to place. o The spot price based energy marketplace involves a variety of utility-customer transactions (ranging from hourly varying prices to long-term, multiple-year contracts), all of which are based in a consistent manner on hourly spot prices. These transactions may include customers selling to, as well as buying from, the utility. The basic theory and practical implementation issues associated with a spot price based energy marketplace have been developed and discussed through a number of different reports, theses, and papers. Each addresses only a part of the total picture, and often with a somewhat different notation and terminology (which has evolved in parallel with our growing experience). This book was xvii xviii Preface written to serve as a single, integrated sourcebook on the theory and imple mentation of a spot price based energy marketplace.
This study outlines the theoretical and practical aspects which are relevant to the design of distribution networks, particularly the increased use of computers in their design and operation. The edition has been revised to include material on electromagnetic compatibility and legislation.
Finally multi-utility network cost analyses are presented for aggregate and disaggregate electricity and natural gas capital investments. Economies of scope analyses investigate whether providing electricity and natural gas jointly is economically advantageous, as compared to providing these products separately. Significant economies of scope are observed for both the total network and the underground capital investments.
