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Merger, acquisition and restructuring activity has long been conducted by public and private entities to minimise cost through increased scale of business operations. Past literature is mixed on the realised gains from this activity. Utilising a dataset of New Zealand-based regulated electricity distribution businesses we find limited potential gain from unit cost reduction purely through increasing scale. Instead, we find that potential benefits come from increasing the population density of service. This is important and often overlooked in policy conversations, particularly in relation to infrastructure activities operating highly capital-intensive businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I examine developments in the application of performance-based regulation (PBR) to electricity distribution and transmission in the United States. Applications of comprehensive PBR to electricity distribution had been slow to diffuse in the U.S. prior to roughly 2000. PBR mechanisms are now being applied more frequently to electricity distribution, which reflects the changing structure of the electric power industry and the increasing obligations that are being placed on electric distribution companies. The new obligations are a consequence primarily of aggressive targets for decarbonizing the electricity sector in nearly half the states and the goal of using "clean" electricity to electrify transportation, buildings, and other sectors. PBR should be viewed as a set of "building blocks" that can be adopted in various combinations and should recognize that PBR and traditional cost-of-service regulation (COSR) are properly viewed as complements rather than substitutes. Recent reforms in the regulation of distribution companies in Great Britain—"RIIO"—have been influential in the U.S. The main reforms contained in RIIO are discussed. There has been essentially no application of PBR by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to owners of transmission assets or to independent transmission operators. FERC has applied targeted incentives to encourage investment in transmission facilities and membership in independent system operator organizations. However, the regulation of transmission rates relies primarily on COSR in the form of formula rates and has poor incentive properties. Regulation of independent system operators is a challenge because they are non-profit organizations with no equity to put at risk. Reforms here are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies on strategies for improving restoration times in electrical distribution systems are extensive. They have theoretically explored the application of mathematical models, the implementation of remotely controlled systems, and the use of digital simulators. This research aims to connect conceptual studies and the implementation of improvements and impact assessment in electrical distribution systems in developing countries, where distribution technologies vary widely, by employing a comprehensive methodology. The proposed research examines the restoration times for faults in substations within general distribution networks in the central–western region of Mexico. The study comprises these stages: (a) diagnosing the electrical supply, demand, and infrastructure; (b) analyzing the electrical restoration time and the restoration index of the substations; and (c) providing recommendations and implementing pilot tests for improvements in the identified critical substations. The results revealed 12 analysis zones, including 120 distribution substations, 150 power transformers, and 751 medium voltage circuits. Among the substations, 73% have ring connections, 15% have TAP connections, and 12% have radial connections. Additionally, 27% of the substations rely on only a single distribution line. The study identified areas with significant challenges in restoring electricity supply, particularly focusing on power transformers: 32 transformers with permanent power line failures requiring load transfer via medium voltage; 67 transformers requiring optimized restoration maneuvers due to specific characteristics; and 4 areas with opportunities to enhance the reliability of the power supply through remote-controlled link systems. The analysis resulted in the installation of 145 remote link systems, which improved restoration rates by over 40%. This approach is expected to be replicated throughout Mexico to identify improvements needed in the national distribution system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of increasing climate variability and the complexities of modern power grids, managing power outages in electric utilities has emerged as a critical challenge. This paper introduces a novel predictive model employing machine learning algorithms, including decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Leveraging historical sensors-based and non-sensors-based outage data from a Turkish electric utility company, the model demonstrates adaptability to diverse grid structures, considers meteorological and non-meteorological outage causes, and provides real-time feedback to customers to effectively address the problem of power outage duration. Using the XGBoost algorithm with the minimum redundancy maximum relevance (MRMR) feature selection attained 98.433% accuracy in predicting outage durations, better than the state-of-the-art methods showing 85.511% accuracy on average over various datasets, a 12.922% improvement. This paper contributes a practical solution to enhance outage management and customer communication, showcasing the potential of machine learning to transform electric utility responses and improve grid resilience and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global energy sector is currently undergoing a significant transformation to address sustainability, energy efficiency, and grid resilience. Smart grids, leveraging advanced technologies like the power internet of things (PIoT), play a crucial role in this transformation. This research focuses on enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of electricity distribution through IoT technologies. It envisions a system where interconnected devices, sensors, and data analytics optimize energy consumption, monitor grid conditions, and manage demand response scenarios. Central to this effort is the integration of PIoT into the smart grid infrastructure, particularly in implementing dynamic pricing strategies for demand response. Leveraging power line communication (PLC) techniques, this innovative approach facilitates real-time communication between grid components and consumers. The results demonstrate improved grid stability through dynamic load management, effectively responding to demand fluctuations, and minimizing disruptions. The deployment of dynamic pricing methods using PLC-driven schemes empowers customers by offering access to real-time energy use data. This access incentivizes energy-efficient behavior. leading to a 30% increase in the adoption of energy-saving techniques among consumers. A utility company pilot study claimed a 12% drop in peak demand after adopting time-of-use charges, with an accuracy rate of 98.87% in total. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the Grid-Enhanced, Mobility-Integrated Network Infrastructures for Extreme Fast Charging (GEMINI) architecture for the co-simulation of distribution and transportation systems to evaluate EV charging impacts on electric distribution systems of a large metropolitan area and the surrounding rural regions with high fidelity. The current co-simulation is applied to Oakland and Alameda, California, and in future work will be extended to the full San Francisco Bay Area. It uses the HELICS co-simulation framework to enable parallel instances of vetted grid and transportation software programs to interact at every model timestep, allowing high-fidelity simulations at a large scale. This enables not only the impacts of electrified transportation systems across a larger interconnected collection of distribution feeders to be evaluated, but also the feedbacks between the two systems, such as through control systems, to be captured and compared. The findings are that with moderate passenger EV adoption rates, inverter controls combined with some distribution system hardware upgrades can maintain grid voltages within ANSI C.84 range A limits of 0.95 to 1.05 p.u. without smart charging. However, EV charging control may be required for higher levels of charging or to reduce grid upgrades, and this will be explored in future work.

This paper investigates outage management in electricity distribution networks through the application of artificial intelligence techniques. The core of the system utilizes a diverse dataset compiled from outage management system records, weather forecasts, and geographical data to predict potential electricity outages. The data is rigorously analyzed to determine correlations between various weather conditions and outage occurrences, with particular emphasis on the impact of wind speed and storm conditions. The predictive model, a cornerstone of this research, employs a hybrid artificial intelligence algorithm that integrates outputs from convolutional neural networks, recursive neural networks, and extreme gradient boosting. The predictions are further refined using a feedforward neural network and distributed to specific districts based on historical data trends. Comparative analysis against a naive model based on historical averages highlights the superior performance of the hybrid model, showcasing its reduced error rates and enhanced predictive accuracy. This decision support system not only provides reliable outage predictions but also facilitates more effective management strategies, thus improving operational efficiencies and customer service in electricity distribution. The findings underscore the potential of advanced analytics in transforming utility management and pave the way for further innovations in smart grid technology and outage prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a multidisciplinary approach involving Explainable Artificial Intelligence (ExAI) and operational risk management to reduce Non-Technical Losses (NTL) in electricity distribution. It empirically explores how the activities of employees of utility companies contribute to NTL, a phenomenon often overlooked in existing empirical research. An ensemble classification algorithm is used to analyse utility operations data, and the SHAP explainability technique establishes the predictive significance of staff activities for NTL. Subsequently, these staff activities are mapped into risk cells using the BASEL II and III operational risk definitions, and the Three Lines of Defence (3LoD) model is developed for optimizing electricity distribution. The paper makes three original contributions to the literature: first, it empirically links staff operations to NTL; second, it maps NTL causes to Basel II/III operational risk categories; and finally, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study to use the 3LoD model for electricity distribution optimization.

In support of the global green transition, numerous policies have been introduced to efficiently address the increasing demand for reliable electricity. However, the impacts of these policies have received limited attention, despite the potential for unsuccessful policy targets to introduce inefficiencies into the energy system, subsequently diminishing societal wealth. This study bridges this research gap by conducting a comprehensive examination of a supply reliability incentive within electricity pricing regulation, aiming to contribute new insights for policy assessments. Analyzing data from all electricity distribution operators within a single jurisdiction, the study investigates the volume and distribution of economic steering to elucidate the overall societal impact. The findings suggest a rewarding system for positive developments in indices, regardless of the absolute interruption index levels, highlighting the importance of precise variable definitions in implementing incentive mechanisms. The assessment tools developed for this study will be valuable for further regulation and policy assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of research in the field of limiting the effects of overvoltages and improving the conditions for the self-extinguishing of transient faults in medium voltage networks with earth fault current compensation. The aim of the research was to estimate the level of overvoltages generated by an earth fault during re-ignition of the electric arc and to assess the possibility of reducing them by increasing the attenuation of the earth fault circuit. The results of the conducted tests show that to increase the attenuation, which ensures a significant effect of limiting such overvoltages, it is enough to change the way of operation of the devices forcing an additional active component of the earth fault current (AWSCz/ACFA). In Poland, such devices are commonly used to improve the effectiveness of earth fault protection. It was also found that the proposed solution enables accurate tuning of the Petersen coil in networks with natural asymmetry of earth capacitances. Therefore, changes in the operation of AWSCz/ACFA devices may have a beneficial effect on the limiting the effects of repeated ignitions during earth faults and, at the same time, enable the accurate tuning of the Petersen coil and increase its ability to extinguish arc-fed faults. Research and theoretical analysis of the issue were carried out on the basis of data characterizing the parameters of the earth fault circuits of the real 15 kV network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of prices for goods and services in a specific economy is significantly influenced by commodity prices and the distribution of energy. Hence, this study aims to examine the impact of fuel prices and electricity supply on the inflation rate in South Africa. The empirical analysis focuses on a time series data covering the period from January 2009 to December 2021. The study utilizes the Johansen test for cointegration, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), and Granger approaches to establish the relationship between the variables. The empirical findings indicate the existence of a long-term relationship among the variables, indicating that long-term changes in electricity supply and fuel prices have an influence on South Africa's inflation levels. Similarly, the short-term results suggest an inverse relationship between fuel prices, electricity supply, and the inflation rate. In order to reduce the inflation rate, it is recommended to decrease spending on imported fuel and enhance electricity supply through increased investment in renewable energy and research and development (R and D).

The studies on strategies for improving restoration times in electrical distribution systems are extensive. They have theoretically explored the application of mathematical models, the implementation of remotely controlled systems, and the use of digital simulators. This research aims to connect conceptual studies and the implementation of improvements and impact assessment in electrical distribution systems in developing countries, where distribution technologies vary widely, by employing a comprehensive methodology. The proposed research examines the restoration times for faults in substations within general distribution networks in the central–western region of Mexico. The study comprises these stages: (a) diagnosing the electrical supply, demand, and infrastructure; (b) analyzing the electrical restoration time and the restoration index of the substations; and (c) providing recommendations and implementing pilot tests for improvements in the identified critical substations. The results revealed 12 analysis zones, including 120 distribution substations, 150 power transformers, and 751 medium voltage circuits. Among the substations, 73% have ring connections, 15% have TAP connections, and 12% have radial connections. Additionally, 27% of the substations rely on only a single distribution line. The study identified areas with significant challenges in restoring electricity supply, particularly focusing on power transformers: 32 transformers with permanent power line failures requiring load transfer via medium voltage; 67 transformers requiring optimized restoration maneuvers due to specific characteristics; and 4 areas with opportunities to enhance the reliability of the power supply through remote-controlled link systems. The analysis resulted in the installation of 145 remote link systems, which improved restoration rates by over 40%. This approach is expected to be replicated throughout Mexico to identify improvements needed in the national distribution system.

In the face of increasing climate variability and the complexities of modern power grids, managing power outages in electric utilities has emerged as a critical challenge. This paper introduces a novel predictive model employing machine learning algorithms, including decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Leveraging historical sensors-based and non-sensors-based outage data from a Turkish electric utility company, the model demonstrates adaptability to diverse grid structures, considers meteorological and non-meteorological outage causes, and provides real-time feedback to customers to effectively address the problem of power outage duration. Using the XGBoost algorithm with the minimum redundancy maximum relevance (MRMR) feature selection attained 98.433% accuracy in predicting outage durations, better than the state-of-the-art methods showing 85.511% accuracy on average over various datasets, a 12.922% improvement. This paper contributes a practical solution to enhance outage management and customer communication, showcasing the potential of machine learning to transform electric utility responses and improve grid resilience and reliability.

An important aspect in the distribution of electrical energy is the reliability of the system. Therefore, the authors conducted research on SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index) and SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index). To analyze the values of SAIDI and SAIFI, data on disturbances are needed. For SAIDI and SAIFI values from January to March 2023. The smallest SAIDI and SAIFI values occurred in February. This indicates that in February there was minimal disruption due to routine inspections and periodic maintenance on the SUTM network in the PLN UP3 North Banten area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of how electricity is produced from different sources and the electricity needs of the consumer. According to the Green Deal pact, the objective is to gradually reduce polluting emissions in the energy sector by 2050. In the meantime, the CO2 intensive thermal power plants (those using coal and heavy oil) will be closed and strategic investments in green energy sources will be pursued. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the profile of the Romanian electricity producer over a period of one year. Furthermore, this paper explores the possibility for the energy producer to adapt to consumer demand to reduce electricity imports, strategic locations for the installation of farms using renewable energy, and the current capacity of the national distribution system. This paper analyses electricity only quantitatively and not qualitatively, as well as the way the supplier follows consumers' need. The paper concludes on possible problems that may arise from the case of green energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 5G concept, nonpublic networks can be used in any private enterprises. However, the most relevant at present is the introduction of private networks in priority sectors of the economy. These are such sectors as communications and telecommunications, production and distribution of electricity, as well as housing construction. The paper considers four scenarios for calculating the total cost of a 5G network, as well as three scenarios for deployment in various sectors. For calculations, the authors define the concepts of CAPEX and OPEX, and present the architecture of the 5G network. The calculation was performed by the optimal method in each individual scenario. The results of the work were obtained by mathematical modeling in the Matlab environment.

Purpose The aims of this research are to measure the efficiency of electricity distribution in 33 Indonesian provinces from 2010 to 2019. Design/methodology/approach The efficiency was measured using a two-step bootstrap analysis, i.e. DEA BCC and DEA Bootstrap. Findings This study finds that the efficiency estimation uses DEA BCC overestimate and that the proximity between electrical sources and customers becomes one of the supporting factors for the electricity distribution process and reduces losses. Furthermore, workforce input, nameplate capacity, and network length will be adjusted to customers; electricity demand needs as a component of the electricity distribution process from plants to consumers. Research limitations/implications This study uses the output of the number of customers and the amount of electricity distributed while the input variables use the amount of labor, installed capacity, and length of the distribution network. Originality/value This study uses DEA Bootstrap and the variables used in the study is a combination of variables that have been proven to affect electricity distribution and have never been applied in Indonesia.

China's carbon peak strategy constrains industry's carbon footprint, limiting the total amount of electricity production from coal burning, rendering electricity a relatively scarce resource and affecting manufacturing enterprises' production and operation activities. To address these circumstances, this paper applies a non-cooperative game model to describe the electricity resource distribution and product production process under enterprises' competitive state, proposing an optimal electricity distribution analysis framework for manufacturing enterprises. The results of optimal electricity distribution for six subindustries in the 'three innovations' manufacturing industries (referring to a collection of economic activities to establish new industries, new formats and new business models) are analysed to examine the difference in electricity consumption efficiency among industries. The electricity quota of each industrial chain significantly differs before and after redistribution;therefore, the industrial differences of optimal electricity distribution are further explored from the perspective of industrial chains, revealing the supply–demand relationship of upstream, middle and downstream enterprises. Finally, corresponding policy suggestions and directions for further research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread penetration of renewable energy sources and energy storage systems, the problem of energy management has received increasing attention. One of the systems that network owners consider today is the power-to-gas (P2G) system. This system causes surplus electricity generated from renewable energy resources or batteries in the network to be converted into gas and sold to the gas network. Two reasons for the existence of gas distributed generation resources and P2G systems cause the two power and gas networks to interact. Energy management and profit making considering these two networks, as a co-optimization of integrated energy systems, is a topic that has been discussed in this study to achieve the best optimal answer. Since the production of renewable energy resources and the purchase price of energy are uncertain, a scenario-based method has been chosen for modelling. Demand-side management is also one of the important problems in optimal operation of the electricity network, which can have a significant impact on reducing peak load and increasing profits. In this paper, a mixed-integer quadratic programming model for co-optimization of electric distribution and gas networks in the presence of distributed generation resources, P2G systems, storage facilities, electric vehicles and demand-side management is presented. The 33-bus distribution network is intended to analyse the proposed model. The results of different scenarios show the efficiency of the proposed model. Several key points are deduced from the obtained results: (i) demand-side management is able to reduce the peak load of the network, (ii) the presence of renewable resources and batteries can cause the network to convert excess electricity into gas and sell it to the gas network in the market and (iii) distributed generation can reduce the purchase of energy from the upstream network and cause a 36% reduction in the cost function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In support of the global green transition, numerous policies have been introduced to efficiently address the increasing demand for reliable electricity. However, the impacts of these policies have received limited attention, despite the potential for unsuccessful policy targets to introduce inefficiencies into the energy system, subsequently diminishing societal wealth. This study bridges this research gap by conducting a comprehensive examination of a supply reliability incentive within electricity pricing regulation, aiming to contribute new insights for policy assessments. Analyzing data from all electricity distribution operators within a single jurisdiction, the study investigates the volume and distribution of economic steering to elucidate the overall societal impact. The findings suggest a rewarding system for positive developments in indices, regardless of the absolute interruption index levels, highlighting the importance of precise variable definitions in implementing incentive mechanisms. The assessment tools developed for this study will be valuable for further regulation and policy assessments.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada özelleştirme programına alınan Türkiye elektrik dağıtım şirketleri performansının etkinlik ve verimlilik açısından incelenmesi hedeflenmektedir. Yöntem: Veri zarflama analizi ve Malmquist Toplam Faktör Verimliliği İndeksi kullanılarak etkinlik ve verimlilik analizi yapılmıştır. Etkinlik ölçümünde, ölçeğe göre sabit getiriyi dikkate alan girdi odaklı CCR modeli ve ölçeğe göre değişen getiriyi dikkate alan girdi odaklı BCC modelleri denenmiştir. Malmquist Toplam Faktör Verimliliği İndeksi ile ilgili dönemde toplam faktör verimliliklerindeki değişme ve bu değişimin kaynakları açıklanmıştır. Bulgular: Verimlilik 2013 yılında en düşük, 2016 yılında ise en yüksek seviyeyedir. En büyük toplam faktör verimliliği artışı 2013-2014, düşüşü ise 2014-2015 döneminde gerçekleşmiştir. Sektörün bir bütün olarak toplam faktör verimliliği artışı yıllık ortalama %10,5’tir. Çalışma sonuçları, karar birimlerinin etkinsiz çalıştığını ve dağıtım şirketlerinin hizmet verdikleri bölgelerdeki refah düzeyi farklılıklarının etkinlik üzerinde belirgin bir etkisi bulunmadığını göstermektedir. Özgünlük: Çalışmada elektrik dağıtım şirketlerininn hem etkinlik hem de verimlikleri 2012-2018 dönemi için incelemiştir. Enerji sektörünün önemi sebebiyle bu konu araştırılmaya değer görülmüştür. Çalışma bu nedenlerle özgün nitelik taşımaktadır.

This paper describes a multi-variable robust control scheme for frequency regulation in a diesel–photovoltaic–supercapacitor hybrid power generation system operating in stand-alone mode. The proposed control structure relies on a two-level architecture, with conventional PI-based current tracking controllers placed on the lower control level and receiving references from an H ∞ -control-based upper level. The specific engineering demands of microgrid operation are cast into an H ∞ control formalism. A rapid-prototyping test bench composed of a real supercapacitor-based energy storage system and an emulated diesel–photovoltaic–load grid is developed using real-time digital simulators, namely RT-LAB ® and dSPACE ® , in order to experimentally validate the proposed frequency robust control strategy under realistic operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 5G concept, nonpublic networks can be used in any private enterprises. However, the most relevant at present is the introduction of private networks in priority sectors of the economy. These are such sectors as communications and telecommunications, production and distribution of electricity, as well as housing construction. The paper considers four scenarios for calculating the total cost of a 5G network, as well as three scenarios for deployment in various sectors. For calculations, the authors define the concepts of CAPEX and OPEX, and present the architecture of the 5G network. The calculation was performed by the optimal method in each individual scenario. The results of the work were obtained by mathematical modeling in the Matlab environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of research in the field of limiting the effects of overvoltages and improving the conditions for the self-extinguishing of transient faults in medium voltage networks with earth fault current compensation. The aim of the research was to estimate the level of overvoltages generated by an earth fault during re-ignition of the electric arc and to assess the possibility of reducing them by increasing the attenuation of the earth fault circuit. The results of the conducted tests show that to increase the attenuation, which ensures a significant effect of limiting such overvoltages, it is enough to change the way of operation of the devices forcing an additional active component of the earth fault current (AWSCz/ACFA). In Poland, such devices are commonly used to improve the effectiveness of earth fault protection. It was also found that the proposed solution enables accurate tuning of the Petersen coil in networks with natural asymmetry of earth capacitances. Therefore, changes in the operation of AWSCz/ACFA devices may have a beneficial effect on the limiting the effects of repeated ignitions during earth faults and, at the same time, enable the accurate tuning of the Petersen coil and increase its ability to extinguish arc-fed faults. Research and theoretical analysis of the issue were carried out on the basis of data characterizing the parameters of the earth fault circuits of the real 15 kV network.

This study assessed the sustainable parameters of electric distribution cables produced in Nigeria to aid the elimination of hazards associated with overheating of inferior cables in this country. This involved sampling of different gauges of fore brands (Wesco, Cutix, Scan and Coleman) of Nigerian made house wiring/installation cables from major industrial markets of his nation and testing them for conformity with NIS and IEEE specifications. The gauge/cross sectional area of cables investigated ranges from 1mm² to 16mm² while resistivity, elongation, flame retardant, tensile strength constitutes quality indicators evaluated with prevailing market prices cost in Nigeria within November 2021. Results showed that the four cable brands appraised conformed to set standards for tensile strength, resistivity, and flame retardant with Cutix cables exhibiting top profiles. Wesco, Cutix and Coleman cables exhibit low smoke and fume while scan revealed low smoke and halogen free cable burning features. Coleman cable showed a linear relationship in the elongation curve while Wesco, Cutix and Scan tend to follow the plasticity profile. Thus, proper care must be taken during installation of Coleman cables to avoid damage to the cable surface. Cutix cables are most expensive among all gauges due to their high copper content of their conductor material compared to other sampled brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of how electricity is produced from different sources and the electricity needs of the consumer. According to the Green Deal pact, the objective is to gradually reduce polluting emissions in the energy sector by 2050. In the meantime, the CO2 intensive thermal power plants (those using coal and heavy oil) will be closed and strategic investments in green energy sources will be pursued. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the profile of the Romanian electricity producer over a period of one year. Furthermore, this paper explores the possibility for the energy producer to adapt to consumer demand to reduce electricity imports, strategic locations for the installation of farms using renewable energy, and the current capacity of the national distribution system. This paper analyses electricity only quantitatively and not qualitatively, as well as the way the supplier follows consumers’ need. The paper concludes on possible problems that may arise from the case of green energy.

Transformer failures have a significant cost impact on the operation of an electrical network. In many utilities, transformers have been operating for many years past their expected usable life. As power demand has surged, transformers in some areas are being loaded beyond their rated capacity to meet the demand. One of the vital components in a transformer is the on-load tap changer (OLTC), which regulates the voltage in the distribution network. This study aims to review several condition-monitoring techniques (online and offline) that can monitor the health of the OLTC and assure the safety of the transformer's OLTC from irreparable damage by detecting the defect at an earlier stage, which is preceded by the specification of typical faults. This paper also discussed the common faults of the OLTC and the root causes of these faults. The OLTC is prone to mechanical faults due to its frequently changing mechanism in the tap operation. The OLTC are also prone to oil as well as thermal faults. As a result, it is critical to monitor OLTC conditions while they are in use. Proper management of condition monitoring (CM) for the OLTC is useful and necessary to increase availability and achieve optimised operating. Condition monitoring (CM) and diagnostics methods (DM) have been developing since the 1950s. CM and DM have been implemented to diagnose and detect an incipient fault, especially for the OLTC. Many techniques, online and offline, are being used to monitor the condition of the OLTC to prevent failure and minimize outages. These DM and CM will prolong the operational cycle and avoid a major disaster for the OLTC, which is an unfavorable scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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All forms of economic regulation rely on observing the regulated firm's costs which necessitates estimating the firm's cost of capital including the cost of equity. Performance-based regulation (PBR) combines increased efficiency incentives with explicit performance-achievement rewards. It is attracting both increasing academic attention and greater application in electricity regulation. The standard textbook approaches to the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) incorrectly describe the asset beta as simply a measure of risk. More correctly, it is a measure of risk per unit of expected return. This interpretation makes the use of the CAPM to determine allowed rates of return problematic. The incentives in Performance Based Regulation exacerbate this problem. Regulators who base part of their decision on "judgement" should rely more on that judgement and develop approaches that focus on regulatory, rather than market, outcomes. • The correct interpretation of the CAPM shows that the asset beta is related to the variance per unit of expected return. • Performance-based regulation is replacing both rate of return regulation and price/revenue cap regulation. • The incentives in PBR invalidate the simple application of market returns on equity as the allowed rate of return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, unit commitment problem was investigated on the grid model of a real electricity distribution grid created in the DIgSILENT PowerFactory (PF) program. In this context, the deterministic approach of the mathematical formulation unit commitment problem used in the PF program was introduced. The electricity distribution grid of Kahramanmaraş province was modeled on PF and a pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant (PHPP) was integrated into this modeling. The working logic of PHPP is based on the fact that it can be used to store or sell energy according to changes in electrical energy prices. With this model, while the power plant is expected to supply the peak load demands of the consumers in the grid, it was also aimed to gain economic profit by taking advantage of the price changes in the electricity markets. Modeling and analysis studies in line with these targets concluded that energy storage technologies, which use high power effectively, are beneficial both technically and economically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-technical losses directly affect the electricity distribution system's quality and create significant economic problems in developing countries. There has been an advance in Brazil's regulations to combat this kind of loss in the last 15 years. However, the electricity consumed and not billed is still high, impacting the electricity tariff and distributors' investment capacity and creating difficulties in developing public policies to mitigate the problem. Thus, this article seeks to present the panorama of non-technical losses in Brazil and propose legislative, regulatory, business, and academic directions. For this, 28 semi-structured interviews were carried out with specialists, resulting in identifying the main challenges for identifying and mitigating non-technical losses in Brazil and the factors that help overcome this problem. The results demonstrate that coordinated strategic actions among all stakeholders need to be developed to combat non-technical losses. The cultural change in acceptance of electricity theft needs to be one of the country's main focuses. The main contribution is to disseminate information to regulatory and legislative authorities, government, concessionaires, and researchers to develop practical actions for mitigating non-technical losses in Brazil.

In this study, by using Modified Kemeny Median Indicator Ranks Accordance (KEMIRA-M) approach which begins to become popular in recent times for solution of Multi criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problems, warehouse location selection for an electricity distribution company is performed. KEMIRA-M logically distinguishes criteria into two groups and it computes criteria importance weights by including interactions between both groups. KEMIRA-M considers both decision makers’ preferences related to the priorities of criteria and quantitative or qualitative values of these criteria in decision making process. Decision makers can change importance weights of criteria based on median priority component representing expected rankings of criteria importance weights and they can see the effect of this variability on rankings of alternatives. In warehouse location selection problem investigated in this study, it is aimed to choose the favorable location considering different criteria and these criteria were grouped firm related and environmental criteria to evaluate 20 alternative warehouse locations. In this context, as firm related criteria; Operation Center-Meeting Point (OC-MP) transportation cost per month, main warehouses’ transportation costs per month, number of connected OC-MP, consumption amounts of OC-MP were considered. Population, distance to the closest main road, average distance to main supplier, mobility, investment amounts in 2018, average delivery time and land cost were taken into account as environmental criteria group.

Bu çalışmada, Çok Kriterli Karar Verme (ÇKKV) problemlerinin çözümü için son zamanlarda popüler hale gelen Modifiye Edilmiş Kemeny Medyan Gösterge Sıralaması Uygunluk Yaklaşımı (Modified KEmeny Median Indicator Ranks Accordance, KEMIRA-M) kullanılarak; bir elektrik dağıtım şirketi için depo yeri seçimi gerçekleştirilmiştir. KEMIRA-M, kriterleri mantıksal olarak iki gruba ayırmakta ve her iki grup arasındaki etkileşimleri de kapsayarak kriter önem ağırlıklarını hesaplamaktadır. KEMIRA-M, karar vericilerin hem kriter öncelikleriyle ilgili tercihlerini hem de kriterlerin nicel veya nitel değerlerini dikkate almaktadır. Karar vericiler, kriterlerin önem ağırlıklarını medyan bileşen öncelikleri temelinde değiştirebilirler ve bu değişkenliğin etkilerini alternatiflerin sıralaması üzerinde görebilirler. Bu çalışmada incelenen depo yeri seçim probleminde farklı kriterler göz önünde bulundurularak en uygun yerin seçilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu kriterler 20 depo yeri alternatifinin değerlendirilmesi için çevresel ve firma ile ilişkili kriterler olmak üzere iki gruba ayrılmıştır. Bu kapsamda, firma ilişkili kriterler olarak; Operasyon Merkezi-Buluşma Noktası Depolarının (OC-MP) aylık ulaşım maliyetleri, 2018 yatırım tutarları, aylık ana depolar arası ulaşım maliyetleri, bağlı OC-MP sayısı ve OC-MP tüketim tutarları dikkate alınmıştır. Çevresel kriterler olarak; nüfus, en yakın ana yola uzaklık, ana tedarikçiye ortalama uzaklık, hareket esnekliği, ortalama teslimat süresi ve arazi maliyeti göz önünde bulundurulmuştur.

This work describes the Grid-Enhanced, Mobility-Integrated Network Infrastructures for Extreme Fast Charging (GEMINI) architecture for the co-simulation of distribution and transportation systems to evaluate EV charging impacts on electric distribution systems of a large metropolitan area and the surrounding rural regions with high fidelity. The current co-simulation is applied to Oakland and Alameda, California, and in future work will be extended to the full San Francisco Bay Area. It uses the HELICS co-simulation framework to enable parallel instances of vetted grid and transportation software programs to interact at every model timestep, allowing high-fidelity simulations at a large scale. This enables not only the impacts of electrified transportation systems across a larger interconnected collection of distribution feeders to be evaluated, but also the feedbacks between the two systems, such as through control systems, to be captured and compared. The findings are that with moderate passenger EV adoption rates, inverter controls combined with some distribution system hardware upgrades can maintain grid voltages within ANSI C.84 range A limits of 0.95 to 1.05 p.u. without smart charging. However, EV charging control may be required for higher levels of charging or to reduce grid upgrades, and this will be explored in future work.

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Sectionalizing switches (SSs) and tie lines play essential roles in reducing the duration of customer interruptions in electricity distribution networks. The effectiveness of such assets is strongly influenced by their placement in the grid. Operation of SSs and tie lines is also inherently interdependent. Due to the structural complexities regarding the mathematical modeling of such dependencies, optimization of the planning and operation of switches and tie lines has typically required either leveraging heuristic and metaheuristic approaches or oversimplifying the network topology. To tackle such issues, this paper presents a computationally-efficient model for reliability-oriented concurrent switch and tie line placement in distribution networks with complex topologies. The proposed model can be applied to grids with several tie lines and laterals per feeder, and yields the optimal location of tie lines, type of tie switches, namely manual or remote-controlled, and the location and type of SSs. Being cast as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem, the model can be efficiently solved with guaranteed convergence to global optimality using off-the-shelf optimization software. The efficiency and scalability of the proposed model are demonstrated through implementation on five networks and the outcomes are thoroughly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]