Policy Review

Examination of recent policy and regulatory initiatives

• Global Winds of Change: Power grids face a whole new set of rules

  January 1, 2010
  Electric power transmission grids, once considered to be a staid and low-risk business with no uncertainties, are currently in the midst of several changes.

• American Transmission Expansion: Siting and Permitting Major Reliability Concerns

  December 1, 2009
  The Long-Term Reliability Assessment Report 2009 by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) ranks the construction of the much needed transmission infrastructure...

• Brazil’s Transmission Sector: Regulatory framework ensures investments

  November 1, 2009
  Brazil’s transmission network is set to expand further with the second auction of the year for the construction of transmission lines scheduled to be held on November 27, 2009.

• Australian Electricity Market: Reliability in uncertain times

  October 1, 2009
  The Australian energy market is gearing up its regulatory and market processes to prepare for the ensuing summer, though the proposed regulatory mechanism seems to be getting...

• German Electricity Grid: Structural shifts realign market

  September 1, 2009
  The German electricity market is currently at the centre of a raging debate on the future of its transmission system. On one side of the fence are the owners of vertically...

• Transmission Superhighway for Climate Security: Europe to import solar power

  August 1, 2009
  The idea of using deserts for generating solar power is a really old concept which failed to take off because there was no economically or commercially available technology...

• A Paradigm Shift: India mulls new price allocation method for transmission

  July 1, 2009
  If India's federal electricity regulator has its way, the country's electricity grid will become more competitive and efficient by the end of this year. In May 2009, the Central...

• Bigger Role for FERC: Greater transmission siting authority proposed under a new bill

  June 1, 2009
  A new bill to vest greater authority with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of the US for siting transmission lines has generated a lot of debate.

• Congestion Management: Key to integrated electricity markets

  May 8, 2009
  With increasing liberalisation of power markets, there is greater incentive for power to be transmitted across regions, taking advantage of price differences in various markets...

• Demand Response: Effective tool for grid planning and reliability [free access]

  April 1, 2009
  Demand response (DR) has long held the promise of cost effective management of load growth and transmission congestion, thereby leading to improved grid reliability...

• Focus on Smart Grid: The next level of grid efficiency

  March 2, 2009
  Last month, about USD4.5 billion of funding was made available in the US as part of the economic stimulus package to accelerate the development of a "smart grid".

• Focus on Nuclear : New challenges in grid design and operations

  February 1, 2009
  With the world moving towards ISOs, nuclear plant operators depend on third-party grid operators to be sensitive to their unique needs and set up systems and protocols accordingly.

• Integrated European Grid: Getting ready for new players [free access]

  January 1, 2009
  The European Union (EU) is getting ready for reforms with the third package for internal energy market liberalisation scheduled for rollout by early 2009.

• Grid Investments in China: Fractured policy proves to be an impediment

  December 1, 2008
  The Chinese power transmission grid comprising nearly 330,000 km of 220+ kV transmission lines is the largest in the world. The grid has grown by almost 14 per cent in line length.

• Renewable Framework: Smart grids play a vital role in the US [free access]

  November 1, 2008
  A large and growing number of states in the US have established renewable portfolio standards (RPS), and the country’s National Energy Policy promotes renewable energy.

• Regional Transmission Pricing Initiative: Enhancing grid utilisation efficiency

  October 1, 2008
  Come February 2009, power customers in south western USA can look forward to availing of coordinated transmission services at a regional rate.