Hydrology,topography and demography matter: Why care needs to be exercised when assessing water prices and regulation and the extent to which they conform with best practice

Water tariffs frequently seek to achieve multiple objectives, some of which may conflict. However, the nature and rationale for those conflicts is not always understood or appreciated. This paper consider how localised natural and human phenomena can shape the extent to which so-called ‘best practice’ economic regulation and pricing can be expected to take hold in Victoria and South Australia. Overall, we find that there is room for improvement in the institutional arrangements that circumscribe water pricing in some cases, but direct comparisons are not always helpful, especially when the underlying hydrology, topography and demography of states differs markedly.     

农村电话用户市场调查与分析

受中国电信委托、原邮电部经济技术发展研究中心在全国进行一次农村电信市场调查，以了解当前农村通信市场发展潜力，本文公布了此次调查的结果，从经济能力、资费和潜在市场等方面提出了发展农话的建议 。     

Effect of electricity tariff on the optimum insulation-thickness in building walls as determined by a dynamic heat-transfer model

Thermal insulation is one of the most effective energy-conservation measures in buildings. Despite the widespread use of insulation materials in recent years, little is known regarding their optimum thickness under dynamic thermal conditions. Insulated concrete blocks are among the units most commonly used in the construction of building walls in Saudi Arabia. Typically, the insulation layer thickness is fixed at a value in the range 2.5–7.5 cm, regardless of the climatic conditions, type and cost of insulation material, and other economic parameters. In the present study, a numerical model based on a finite-volume, time-dependent implicit procedure, which has been previously validated, is used to compute the yearly cooling and heating transmission loads under steady periodic conditions through a typical building wall, for different insulation thicknesses. The transmission loads, calculated by using the climatic conditions of Riyadh for a west-facing wall, are fed into an economic model in order to determine the optimum thickness of insulation (L_opt). The latter corresponds to the minimum total cost, which includes the cost of insulation material and its installation plus the present value of energy consumption cost over the lifetime of the building. The optimum insulation thickness depends on the electricity tariff as well as the cost of insulation material, lifetime of the building, inflation and discount rates, and coefficient of performance of the air-conditioning equipment. In the present study, the effect of electricity tariff on the computed optimum insulation thickness is investigated. Different average electricity tariffs are considered; namely, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 SR/kWh (designated as Cases 1–5, respectively; 1 US$ = 3.75 Saudi Riyals). Results using moulded polystyrene as an insulating material show that the values of L_opt are: 4.8, 7.2, 10.9, 13.7 and 16.0 cm for Cases 1–5. Under the conditions of optimal insulation thickness for each electricity tariff, Case 1 gives the lowest total cost of 17.4 SR/m², while Case 5 gives the highest total cost of 53.1 SR/m². Corresponding thermal performance characteristics in terms of yearly total and peak transmission loads, R-value, time lag and decrement factor are presented.     

Analysing the Diversity of Water Pricing Structures: The Case of France

This paper presents the results of a 2003 national survey of urban water pricing structure implemented by 429 district level water utilities. After providing some background elements on the diversity of existing water pricing structures, the paper shows how each structure can be used to achieve different management objectives (water allocation efficiency, costs recovery, and equity). It then describes the structures adopted by French water utilities, showing that flat rate are rarely adopted; declining blocks frequently used; and increasing blocks pricing which should be used to promote water use efficiency remain extremely rare. A statistical clustering is then conducted and a typology of situations elaborated. The paper concludes with highlighting that current pricing structures are influenced by past practices and that the dominant objective of water utilities is to cover costs.     

漳河灌区末级渠系农业水费补贴机制的思考

农村税费改革以来，漳河灌区末级渠系面临着建设与管理缺位、投入不足、责任不明等问题，虽然灌区管理单位也进行了水价改革等积极有效的探索与实践，取得了一定成效，但仍有一些问题亟待破解。结合漳河灌区实际．应加强末级渠系建设奖补基金筹措并改进补发方式，要充分发挥农民用水户协会的作用；在农业水费补贴机制方面．建议将基本水费纳入财政直补范围，建议将农业水费直补金统一发放到末级渠系农民用水户协会。     

Power supply to electric vehicle charging stations in India:Justification of a framework for a dynamic and adaptive electricity tariff policy

Given the steady growth in the use of electric vehicles in India, and the need to locate charging stations in various places to fulfill the corresponding demand, this paper focuses on an applicable Electricity Tariff Policy Framework in the context of power supply to Electric Vehicle Charging Stations(EVCSs). The framework is conceptualized by a theoretical foundation, an operational/functional foundation, and a transactional foundation. The theoretical foundation incorporates justice risk across the Energy Lifecycle stages by classifying the relevant international, regional, and national issues within the legal layers of Energy Law while examining the core ideas of the 'Energy Trilemma'. The paper identifies two basic dimensions, (a) the target sets of end-users, and (b) EVCSs settings and the applicable tariff schemes, as the foundation of the framework. The operational/functional foundation consists of techno-economic and social criteria, and the transactional foundation involves the consideration of different target sets of end-users. The proposed framework will benefit policymakers in general and those, especially in India. Adaptation and use of the framework in other countries should consider their basic economic, geographic and political structures.     

考虑通关水平的跨境物流服务供应链契约协调机制研究

为实现跨境物流服务供应链完全协调,运用Stackelberg博弈理论,构建由一个跨境物流服务供应商与一个物流服务集成商组成的二级供应链。采用因子分析法测度通关水平,分析通关水平对跨境物流服务供应链最优决策及协调运作的影响,设计可供跨境物流服务供应链完美协调的契约机制。研究表明,考虑通关水平使跨境物流服务供应链成员及供应链整体利润均得到提升;集中决策下跨境物流服务供应链整体利润总是高于分散决策;收益共享契约可实现跨境物流服务供应商及供应链整体决策的帕累托优化,但不能达到供应链的完全协调,而Nash协商改进的二部定价契约模型可实现供应链的完全协调。     

变压器空载补偿在企业节能的应用

在高供高计的用电企业中,变压器空载时的无功损耗往往由电网供给,影响电网输送能力,另外造成企业用电功率因数偏低,产生高额的力调电费。该文采用低压自动空载补偿的方法,减少变压器空载时从电网中消耗的无功功率,从而提高功率因数,节约企业生产成本。     

移动电话资费管制的研究

伴随着中国电信行业,特别是移动电话用户数量的高速发展和有效市场竞争格局的初步建立,移动电话资费的调整、改革与管制等问题成为近几年社会各界关注的焦点.本文从电信管制理论出发,分析和介绍了电信资费管制理论的演进过程,进而对中国电信市场特别是移动电话资费的管制实践进行了系统研究,深入地分析了中国建立的新的移动电话资费管制体系,并对未来移动电话资费管制的发展趋势作了展望.     

利用价格杠杆调节北京地区夏季高峰负荷

针对北京地区的新电价方案．简要介绍了调整电价结构的必要性和具体内容，调节高峰负荷的预计效果以及各用电单位充分利用价格杠杆调荷节电、减少电费支出的应对措施。