Title: Methodological basis to decide short-term investments in distribution systems under uncertainty in performance-based regulatory frameworks

Authors: Sergio Raul Rivera, Alberto Vargas

Addresses: Instituto de Energia Electrica Facultad de Ingenieria Universidad Nacional de San Juan Av. Libertador San Martín 1109 (Oeste), San Juan, Argentina. ' Instituto de Energia Electrica Facultad de Ingenieria Universidad Nacional de San Juan Av. Libertador San Martín 1109 (Oeste), San Juan, Argentina

Abstract: This paper presents new concepts and methodological tools to decide the investments that electric distribution utilities must perform under regulatory frameworks based on performance (Performance Based Regulation or PBR). The proposal is focused on short-term investments. In this work, the subject of hierarchical expansion planning and the basis for an investment decision methodology are presented. Furthermore, the uncertainties to be considered in the problem are indicated and uncertainty representation by means of Type-2 Fuzzy Numbers (T2-FN) is proposed due to the fact that T2-FN, besides modelling the uncertainties in quantitative form, can model uncertainties associated to expert knowledge of qualitative characteristics. System diagnosis and identification of problem areas are considered and it is proposed to classify these areas by using performance indices, then the possible short-term investments are analysed. Finally, a profit-cost and risk analysis for a high-priority investment classification are proposed.

Keywords: electrical distribution systems; distribution systems planning; power quality; power reliability; performance based regulation; PBR; short-term investments; uncertainty modelling; fuzzy sets; fuzzy logic; regulatory frameworks; expansion planning; investment decisions; profit-cost analysis; risk assessment; power generation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2007.014927

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2007 Vol.28 No.1, pp.88 - 110

Published online: 20 Aug 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article