Policy Review

Examination of recent policy and regulatory initiatives

• Germany's Second Grid Law: Federal network plan adopted

  April 1, 2013
  In December 2012, the German government approved the ‘Second Act on Measures to Accelerate Network Expansion of Electricity Grids' (or Zweiten Gesetzes...

• UK Energy Bill Amendment: Addressing generator build commissioning concerns

  March 1, 2013
  Offshore wind energy generation will play a crucial role in helping the UK government achieve its goal of meeting 15 per cent of the country's energy needs from renewable...

• EU's New Energy Network Rules: Shortens permit process, increases fund access

  February 1, 2013
  The creation of an energy infrastructure, particularly electricity grids and pipelines, is key to achieving Europe's 2020 energy goals. One of the goals is to increase the share of renewable energy to 20 per cent of the final energy consumption by 2020, for which a powerful and well-integrated power network is needed to transfer remotely located wind and solar energy to load centres.

• Australia's New Rules for Power Networks: For ensuring reasonable consumer prices

  January 1, 2013
  In a bid to strengthen the National Electricity Rules (NER) that govern operations of the national electricity market, the Australian Electricity Market Commission (AEMC) announced amendments to the same by introducing new rules to regulate electricity network prices in November 2012.

• Alberta's New Transmission Rules: AUC's role in project approval strengthened [free access]

  December 1, 2012
  Given Alberta's economic growth and increasing population, demand for power in the Canadian province is forecast to double over the next 20 years. Building a robust grid is...

• Electricity Concession Renewals in Brazil: Dilemma on future investment in the sector

  November 1, 2012
  Beginning next year (2013), Brazil will see one of the biggest ever cuts in its electricity tariffs. The government recently announced certain tax reforms that will lower the ...

• FERC's New Cybersecurity Initiatives: Sets up a group to secure critical infrastructure

  October 1, 2012
  With the US Congress failing to pass legislation to improve the cybersecurity of the nation's critical infrastructure, the federal energy regulator seems to be taking matters...

• US' Merchant Transmission Policy: Reducing uncertainty, increasing flexibility

  September 10, 2012
  Merchant power transmission projects have so far seen only limited success in the US. With the intention of reviving investor interest in such projects, the FERC recently ...

• Ireland's Energy Infrastructure Policy: Reaffirms need for grid development

  August 1, 2012
  The government of the Republic Ireland recently re-emphasised the need to expand the country's power and gas networks as it considers these critical to achieving the economic and...

• Swiss 2050 Energy Goals: Legislations needed to fasten grid expansion

  July 1, 2012
  Many countries are revisiting their energy strategies in the wake of the nuclear disaster in Japan in February 2011. In May 2011, Switzerland decided to phase out nuclear...

• Review of Transmission Incentives in the US: Need to develop a more balanced policy

  June 1, 2012
  It has been six years since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) put in place its incentive rate policy for new transmission projects. FERC's Order No. 679...

• India Amends Transmission Pricing Rules: For smooth transition to new model

  May 1, 2012
  During the past few years, the country's power transmission sector has changed significantly. There is growing competition in the sector, and grids and markets are becoming more complex due to increasing interregional transfers, open access and trading.

• New Greek Law: To liberalise the energy market

  April 1, 2012
  Adoption of an appropriate energy policy can significantly contribute significantly to athe country's economic recovery. Greece, which has been experiencing an economic....

• New Zealand's New Regulatory Regime: Incentive schemes for grid expansion [free access]

  March 1, 2012
  World over, electricity transmission infrastructure expansion and pricing practices are receiving increasing regulatory scrutiny. Traditional cost-based (or rate-of-return)....

• New Environmental Rules: Is US grid reliability under threat?

  February 1, 2012
  The American grid's reliability over the coming years is under intense scrutiny with the recent finalisation of the rules by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to...

• Australia's Proposed Transmission Rules: To promote efficient investment

  January 1, 2012
  Electricity transmission service, being a natural monopoly, needs an appropriate regulatory framework to provide enough incentives for further investment in the sector.

• Brazil's New Environment Rules: To expedite transmission permits

  December 1, 2011
  Energy industry analysts agree to siting and permitting procedures and rules as the biggest challenge for transmission expansion. Land acquisition and environmental...

• Funding European Energy Projects: New guidelines to expedite priority projects

  November 1, 2011
  Last month, the European Commission (EC) once again demonstrated its commitment to build a Europe-wide single energy grid. On October 19, 2011, the EC proposed...

• Mexico's New Grid Rules for Renewables: Developers to build their own lines

  October 1, 2011
  With a favourable climate, Mexico holds huge potential for electricity generation from renewable energy resources such as wind, geothermal and solar.

• Cap and Floor Regime: To boost investment in transmission interconnections

  September 1, 2011
  Investment in cross-border interconnections in Europe will help integrate renewable energy, contribute to security of electricity supply, and facilitate competition...