transmission: the critical link
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Transmission: the Critical Link. Delivering the Promise of Industry Restructuring to Customers Janet Gail Besser, VP, Regulatory Affairs, Transmission Presentation for MA DOER Roundtable Boston, MA September 23, 2005. Transmission and Long-Term Resource Adequacy . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Transmission: the Critical LinkDelivering the Promise of Industry Restructuring to Customers
Janet Gail Besser, VP, Regulatory Affairs, TransmissionPresentation for MA DOER RoundtableBoston, MASeptember 23, 2005
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Transmission and Long-Term Resource Adequacy Transmission often left out of resource
adequacy debate* Role of transmission is misunderstood Therefore, potential contribution of
transmission to resource adequacy is overlooked
*Though it’s subject to much debate on its own
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Transmission’s Role Transmission is the critical link for delivering
the benefits of restructuring to customers Transmission is a market facilitator, not a
market product Reliance on market mechanisms to induce
transmission investment will lead to inadequate system
Niche role for merchant transmission Policies that recognize role of transmission
as market enabler must be implemented to ensure reliable and economic system
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Benefits of Restructuring Undermined by Insufficient Transmission Investment Insufficient transmission preserves
protected power markets, diminishes competition, and threatens reliability
Such conditions… Increase congestion Create opportunities for market power Restrict customer choice Lead to higher costs Increase need for regulated intervention
in the market to avoid reliability problems (and mitigate prices)
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Transmission Enhances Long-Term Resource Adequacy Transmission connects capacity and load
(with help from distribution) Larger, more integrated markets / electricity
systems enhance reliability Diversity of loads and load shape Diversity of generation / capacity
resources and availability Transmission can also lower overall costs of
electricity and reduce locational capacity cost differences Transmission cost is small % of total bill
Robust transmission system is especially important in market context
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Inadequate Transmission Produces Market Problems
Transmission constraints preserve protected markets and create opportunity for exercise of market power.
This prompts need for mitigation which, in turn, prevents some generators from recovering costs.
Retirements in constrained areas are a concern. RMR contracts used to preserve reliability Regulated generation undermines market NYPSC proceeding to explore
policies/requirements governing generation retirements
Inability to recover capital costs leads to dependence on capacity market designs that are often very expensive for customers.
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Transmission – The Path to Successful Markets Enhances reliability Enables trade Facilitates fuel diversity, including renewable
energy Reduces load pockets Increases customer choice Reduces need for regulatory intervention into
markets Leads to lower and more stable overall
electricity prices
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The Roadblocks to Adequate Transmission Planning and pricing policies that view transmission
as a market product vs. market enabling infrastructure Ignore the “Commons” nature of transmission Rely on voluntary participant funding Attempt to identify specific beneficiaries
Fragmented nature of transmission ownership / operation
Lack of independence of transmission from generation Lack of adequate financial incentives State vs. federal jurisdictional issues
Siting Cost recovery
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Policies That Support Transmission Robust regional transmission planning
processes for reliability and economics Fair and workable cost allocation processes,
recognizing transmission as market enabler Federal and state cooperation on cost
recovery and siting Incentives to induce adequate investment
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Regional Transmission Planning A robust planning process should:
Identify reliability and economic needs of the system
Contain well-defined timelines for approval of cost-effective regulated transmission remedies to identified needs
Fully value the benefits of transmission, including enhanced reliability, reduced market power, lower overall electricity prices, environmental improvements, and facilitating energy policy
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Upfront Cost Allocation Mechanism Should be clear, well-defined, repeatable Avoids case-by-case allocation that invites
endless debate and litigation Costs should be allocated broadly to reflect:
Transmission’s widespread benefits That transmission’s beneficiaries change
over time Regional cost allocation should include
reasonable costs incurred to site projects New England is a good example
Caution on regional v. local allocation
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Federal/State Cooperation FERC and states must work together to
provide certainty of cost recovery to transmission owners. Including incentives for cost-effective
transmission investment States should adopt siting policies that
recognize broad benefits of transmission Contribution to resource adequacy
– Delivery of low-cost remote generation – Access to renewable resources– Greater customer choice– Enhanced reliability
Federal backstop authority may be required in some cases
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Conclusion Transmission is market enabler, not market
product Inadequate transmission investment is key
obstacle to delivery of restructuring’s benefits to customers
Policies must recognize role and importance of robust transmission infrastructure To ensure reliability and long-term
resource adequacy To reduce customer costs In both organized and traditional
electricity markets
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Questions?Find Transmission: The Critical Link at: www.nationalgridus.com/transmission_the_critical_link/