Delivering a reliable power supply to consumers has always been a central objective of market design and various solutions to this challenge have been adopted in Europe and elsewhere. In the context of wholesale power markets, these solutions have generally taken the form of creating market rules to pay for firm capacity alongside energy-only prices. A closer look at the new reliability challenges associated with meeting Europe’s decarbonisation targets suggests that our collective thinking will need to evolve “beyond capacity markets” in order to address them. In particular, the power system will need resources capable of rapidly changing output or flexing demand frequently and continuously throughout the year around the energy availability from intermittent renewables. Based on these requirements and related considerations, RAP sets out in this paper a set of market design principles that can be used to assess the suitability of proposals intended to deliver system reliability. The proposal to introduce a capacity payment mechanism being considered for Great Britain is reviewed against these criteria. This work has been accepted by the IEEE for publication.

Author:

Meg Gottstein

Simon Skillings

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/4854

The U.S. electricity system faces multiple urgent challenges to address transmission needs, adapt to smart grid technologies, expand energy efficiency and renewable energy use, and meet increasingly stringent environmental requirements. Air quality management faces equally daunting challenges driven by the need for greater health and environmental protection, diminishing state and federal budgets, and aging regulatory approaches. Reliable, affordable, clean energy solutions are unlikely to occur unless energy and air regulators understand the obligations, structure, and processes in which each regulator acts, and use that knowledge to work together to simultaneously meet energy and air quality goals.

The report begins by discussing some of the differences between state energy regulatory and air quality agencies and describing ways in which each can help the other. The Clean Air Act is described briefly, including its history, main goals, types of pollutants regulated, impacts of those pollutants, and the roles of the EPA and states in implementing the law. It then considers NAAQS, how they are developed, their components, and what happens when states fail to attain them. Finally, the SIP process is described, including how air regulations are developed and updated through that process.

Author:

Ken Colburn

Brenda Hausauer

Chris James

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/508

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/861

This paper provides utility regulators with an outline of initial steps for developing an in-depth understanding of EPA rules and regulations. It includes a review of the EPA's proposed rules as of May 2011, with a focus on compliance flexibility. The paper looks generally at utility planning, suggesting approaches that companies might adopt as they take stock of their existing resources and preparedness to comply in the most effective and affordable manner with the EPA's health and environmental regulations. This paper also seeks to provide a broader understanding of some relevant issues related to modeling, and it sets out recommendations for commissions to consider as they engage with companies and other regulatory agencies on these issues.

Author:

David Farnsworth

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/919

This 120-page guide offers a broad look at utility regulation in the US. Its intended audience includes anyone involved in the regulatory process, from regulators to industry to advocates and consumers. The chapters briefly touch on most topics that affect utility regulation, but do not go into depth on each topic as the discussion is intended to be short and understandable. A lengthy glossary appears at the end of this guide to explain utility sector terms. (Use this version of the guide for easier printing.) Hard copy requests may be sent to info@raponline.org

Author:

Jim Lazar

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/645

Clean First is not a single policy, but rather a
comprehensive suite of policies that flows from the
overarching principle of aligning national power
sector policies and practices with national climate and
environmental policies.

Author:

Regulatory Assistance Project

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/927

This paper was presented at the 2011 ECEEE Summer Study.

With the adoption of the Climate and Energy Package in 2008, European decision-makers created an integrated suite of policies to reduce carbon emissions, increase renewable energy production, and advance energy savings. As the EU ETS moves to carbon auctioning, decision-makers must continue to link carbon prices with other policy tools to meet Europe’s adopted carbon and sustainable development goals. This paper demonstrates how energy efficiency (EE) policies can help meet ETS goals at lower cost, creating space to tighten carbon caps, and/or reduce the cost of protecting high-emitting industries and new Member States. Smart “complementary policies” can directly link ETS and EE strategies, especially by using auction revenue for EE programmes. Complementary policies are also needed to support low-carbon power markets, grid expansion, and renewable power investment across Europe.

Author:

Richard Cowart

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/931

This version of the report is in Chinese. Clean First is not a single policy, but rather a comprehensive suite of policies that flows from the overarching principle of aligning national power
sector policies and practices with national climate and
environmental policies.

Author:

Regulatory Assistance Project

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/926

In consultation with Chinese environmental officials on air pollution law and regulation, the authors of this report have prepared an in-depth analysis of U.S. and other international air regulation experience related to thirteen key issues.

Author:

David Moskovitz

Rebecca Schultz

Richard Cowart

Rick Weston

Chris James

Url:

http://www.raponline.org/document/download/id/227