The State of Performance-Based Regulation in the U.S. Electric Utility Industry

Performance-based regulation (PBR) has made substantial inroads in the electric utility industry, with at least 28 electric utility companies in 16 states presently operating under some form of comprehensive PBR. Many states have replaced (or combined) targeted incentive plans in their electric utility industries with broad-based PBR plans similar to those that are the predominant form of regulation in the telecommunications industry.     

Why the efficiency gains from PBR may turn on Hope

There is renewed interest in PBR in the electric power industry because in theory it constitutes a superior alternative to rate-of-return regulation in emulating competitive market outcomes. The superior incentives of PBR derive from breaking the link between allowed revenues and costs. The interplay between the Hope standard and competitive-entry policies enables the regulator to reestablish the linkage between the regulated firm’s revenues and costs. Consequently, the expected efficiency gains from PBR may prove illusory.     

Debunking the mythology of PBR in electric power

PBR in the electric power industry has failed to gain the traction that incentive regulation experienced in the telecommunications industry. We do not believe institutional differences between the two industries fully explain why PBR has not gained the footing that the economics literature suggests that it should. It is time to debunk several myths that pervade industry and regulatory thinking on the merits of PBR that have had a deleterious effect on its adoption.     

基于绩效的管制模式及其应用

随着对传统的投资回报率管制模式存在弊端的认识逐步加深和管制经济学理论的发展，一种被称为基于绩效的管制模式已被引入到电力工业的管制，并在很多国家逐步得到广泛应用。对于西方大多数发达国家，其电力工业市场化改革的主要动机之一是，解决由于对垄断的电力公司长期采用的基于投资的利润控制管制所引起的过量投资问题，基于绩效的管制可以在相当程度上解决这一问题，因而受到普遍重视。文中以具有自然垄断特性的输电和配电系统的管制为背景，在对传统的基于投资回报率的管制方法存在的问题进行简单介绍的基础上，对基于绩效的管制的几种主要模式、优缺点，以及设计这类管制模式时需要注意的问题做了简要综述。     

Multiattribute utility analysis with imprecise information: an enhanced decision support technique for the evaluation of electric generation expansion strategies

Multiattribute decision making (MADM) methods have been widely used in electric utility decision problems. This paper presents an enhanced MADM method to support the evaluation of electric generation expansion strategies. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is incorporated into the construction procedure of linear additive utility models to facilitate the process of eliciting single utility functions and weighting parameters. The composite utility variances are estimated accounting for individual errors from inaccurate attribute measurements and inconsistent subjective judgments. To support the decision analysis with imprecise information, an appropriate confidence interval is defined to determine the likely range of estimated utility values. Such practice could help the decision maker gain insight into how the imprecise data may affect their choice toward the best solution and how a set of acceptable alternatives may be identified.     

An experimental application of extremum seeking control to cultures of the microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus in a continuous photobioreactor

The cultivation of microalgae in photobioreactors (PBRs) is important in various sectors such as food, bioenergy, pigments, and cosmetics. Productivity optimization can be achieved without the need for a dynamic process model using model-free extremum seeking control (ESC). This article explores the use of ESC to drive the productivity of a continuous PBR to optimal or suboptimal setpoints. The latter can be achieved by estimating on-line the gradient of a measurable performance index using a recursive least squares estimator and by regulating this gradient to a specific value (zero corresponding to the optimum) using the dilution rate as a manipulated variable. Experimental results for the cultivation of the microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus in a lab-scale flat-panel PBR are discussed. They show the fast convergence of ESC and its robustness towards environmental perturbations, such as changes in the incident light intensity.     

期望效用模型在电源投资规划中的应用

针对电源规划过程中的各种可行方案,因其方案的寿命期及投产年限的不相同,在规划年末它们将可能具有不同的剩余使用年限,为了便于比较,运用净年值法对各种可行方案进行经济性评价。在收益估算中考虑了不同的融资结构对方案的比选所产生的影响,并考虑了资金的融资成本,以及不同的融资方式对方案经济性的影响,同时引入了机会成本,特别是对自有资金来讲,如若不考虑其机会成本必然使得对方案的收益估计偏大,这与实际情况不符,易导致过度投资。结合决策者对待风险的不同偏好态度,构造了效用函数,确定效用曲线,并以期望效用最大作为最终的决策依据。为进一步减小决策失误和更加有效的规避风险,还可以测得多人的效用值后进行加权平均。最后通过算例证实这一算法的可行性。     

Power system deregulation and SMD: status and future projections

This paper discusses the structure of the electricity utility industry in California, United States. The State continues to regulate vertically integrated utilities that have reconstructed and regulates only the portion of the utility that distributes the electricity. Therefore in restructured states, generation and transmission entities are no longer regulated. Depending on the deregulated State, the distribution entity may or may not be a provider of electricity. In the deregulated power system environment, a complete and effective plan is needed to meet the challenges of a new energy market.     

The alphabet of PBR in electric power: Why X does not tell the whole story

Performance-based ratemaking has tended to ebb and flow in the electric distribution industry, in contrast to the telecommunications experience. The confluence of factors that precipitated the rapid embrace of incentive regulation in telecommunications likely set false expectations for electric distribution. Whereas price cap regulation in telecommunications delivered consumers real price reductions, PBR may only be able to guarantee consumers a slower rate of price growth. That makes it a tougher sell in electric distribution.     

Provider of last resort in emerging electricity markets: Lessons from telecommunications deregulation

A regulated network service provider of an essential service is often required to serve as a Provider of Last Resort (POLR). This obligation has traditionally entailed three fundamental elements: 1) connect customers to the grid so that service is universally available in the monopoly franchise territory (universal service obligation); 2) offer service of comparable quality in all areas of the monopoly franchise territory at comparable rates; and 3) assure a resilient network that withstands sudden service interruptions and recovers quickly from outages. However, these POLR obligations may need to be adjusted when a utility’s monopoly begins to erode, e.g., as a result of competitive entry, technological change, a public policy shift, and/or deregulation. This paper draws on experiences in the gradual deregulation of the telecom industry that offer insights for developing effective public and regulatory policy with respect to POLR obligations, as the electric utility industry experiences competitive entry.     

Communication requirements - basis for investment in a utility wide-area network

This paper addresses the various requirements forming the basis for investing in a utility wide-area network (WAN). One single requirement cannot itself motivate the total cost of a WAN, whereas the requirements altogether could do that. The paper is based on experiences from Svenska Kraftna/spl uml/t (Swedish National Grid). The presentation aims to be comprehensive, and it should provide support when a utility WAN is to be planned. The contribution of the paper is to provide engineering perspectives on the requirements, rather than a pure theoretical view.     

A fuzzy logic based approach to direct load control

Power system demand side management programs are strategies designed to alter the shape of the load curve. In order to successfully implement such a strategy, customer acceptance of the program is vital. It is thus desirable to design a model for direct load control which may accommodate customer preferences. This paper presents a methodology for optimizing both customer satisfaction and electric utility unit commitment savings, based on a fuzzy load model for the direct load control of appliances     

Direct load control using a programmable logic controller

This paper presents a fully automated programmable logic controller (PLC) based direct load control system. Unlike other existing systems, it gives the consumer the privilege to share in the load shedding policy. After receiving the warning alarm from the PC at the utility control center, the consumer has the chance to switch off any desired load. If he does not act within a predefined period, the PLC will take the required action based on the scenario decided by the utility. Having the consumer decide his own priorities release the utility company from blind decisions. This is one of the most important contributions of the proposed system. Also the load restoration process is scheduled to avoid the creation of a new peak during re-energization. This is done using 48 built-in timers with an accuracy of less than one cycle (10 ms). The hardware at the customer side may be integrated with a digital energy meter to form a complete energy management system.     

日本可再生能源与智能配电网的技术进展

简单介绍了日本可再生能源计划,并分析新能源应用过程中可能遇到的问题及解决方案。讨论在大规模引入风能与太阳能后对日本主电网的影响及应对方法。最后,通过几个工程实例介绍了新能源与智能电网在日本发展的最新成果。     

Load Flow? What Can It Tell You?

Load flows, more recently called power flows, have been a tool of the systems analyst for many years. Mostly load flow studies in the past have been made by large utilities to determine the system behavior under certain specified conditions. In the recent past some industrial plants have electrical systems as large and complex as some of the utility systems of yesteryear. This paper is an effort to set forth the benefits that the industrial plant operator may obtain from a load flow study of his electrical system.     

基于逆变型分布式电源的微电网控制策略研究

针对微电网运行模式切换存在控制失败的问题,提出了一种基于恒功率控制分布式电源和储能补偿装置相结合的微电网形式。利用德国DIg SILENT软件,进行了所提微电网形式的模型搭建,仿真了此微电网模型并网运行、解列及孤岛运行的运行特性。仿真表明,采用此控制策略的微电网能够实现微电网由并网到孤网,由孤网到并网运行模式的平滑切换,验证了此控制策略的正确性和有效性。     

A transaction assessment method for allocation of transmissionservices

This paper presents a power flow based method for an accurate assessment of the impact of a transaction on an area/utility. The method determines, for each transaction, the following: the flowpath of the transaction (both real and reactive power components); generator reactive power support from each area/utility; and real power loss support from each area/utility. The proposed method is tested extensively on a real-life system. Results indicate that the method is very accurate in allocating the above transmission services on a transaction basis     

5.8GHZ扩频通信在调度自动化中的应用

针对多山、路远、地形复杂的地区，为电力系统变电所调度自动化提供的通道有许多种，而采用5．8GHz扩频通信为其提供通道是一种既经济又便捷的手段。文中介绍了多站点对点扩频系统的使用实例。     

Utility interactive system using induction machines to supply mechanical power stored in solar batteries

Solar energy is a very attractive potential power source because of its clean and inexhaustible supply. However, the electric power that can be supplied by solar batteries is variable because it depends on weather conditions. Therefore, the supply is either stabilized by storing power in batteries, or it is added to the general utility network via an inverter. Such systems, however, have cost- and maintenance-related problems. This paper proposes a new utility interactive system that is composed of induction machine A connected to a solar battery through a general purpose inverter and another induction machine B interconnected to the utility line. The frequency of the inverter driving machine A is selected such that solar power can be maximally utilized. This system can supply a stable mechanical load with the required power by parallel operation of two induction machines even in rainy weather and, moreover, recharge the solar battery for the utility line in good weather. This proposed system is economical and useful as a small decentralized power supply because a power filter for rejecting high frequency noises and a detector for a power failure are not necessary. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 118 (2): 70–78, 1997     

Cost-benefit analysis of power system reliability: two utility casestudies

There is an emerging recognition that utility investments and other decisions that affect electric service reliability should be explicitly evaluated on the basis of their cost and benefit implications. A cost-benefit approach that quantifies the reliability benefits of alternatives in terms of the reduction in costs resulting from unserved energy enables the evaluation of generation and transmission capacity additions on a consistent, economic basis. This approach has been applied to two utility case studies. In a case study for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, it was used to evaluate three options for maintaining reliability in a major load center-two involving local generation, and the third, a new 230 kV transmission connection. In a case study for Duke Power Company, the approach was used to evaluate alternative designs for proposed additions to a transmission station. This paper describes the methodology and presents the two utility studies