Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry (eBook)

Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry examines the current state of the electric supply industry; the upstream and downstream of the meter; the various technological, business, and regulatory strategies; and case studies that look at a number of projects that put new models into practice.

A number of powerful trends are beginning to affect the fundamentals of the electric utility business as we know it. Recent developments have led to a fundamental re-thinking of the electric supply industry and its traditional method of measuring consumption on a volumetric basis. These developments include decreasing electricity demand growth; the rising cost of fossil fuels and its impact on electricity costs; investment in energy efficiency; increasing numbers of prosumers who generate for some or all of their own needs; and market reforms.

This book examines the implications of these trends in chapters focusing on distributed and decentralized generation, transactive energy, the role of electric vehicles, any much more.

• Discusses the technological, business, and policy trends most impacting the electric utility sector
• Provides an assessment of how fast and how soon distributed energy resources may make an impact on utility sales/revenues
• Explores, through a series of international case studies, the implementation of strategies that may help retain the viability of the utility industry
• Features contributions from a number of scholars, academics, experts and practitioners from different parts of the world focused on examining the future of the electric supply industry

Dr. F.P. Sioshansi has nearly 30 years of experience working in analysis of energy markets, specializing in the policy, regulatory, technical and environmental aspects of the electric power sector in the US and internationally. His research and professional interests are concentrated in demand and price forecasting, electricity market design, competitive pricing & bidding, integrated resource planning, energy conservation and energy efficiency, economics of global climate change, sustainability, energy security, renewable energy technologies, and comparative performance of competitive electricity markets.
Dr. Sioshansi advises major utility clients and government policy makers domestically and internationally on electricity market reform, restructuring and privatization of the electric power sector. He has published numerous reports, books, book chapters and papers in peer-reviewed journals on a wide range of subjects. Dr. Sioshansi edits and publishes EEnergy Informer, a monthly newsletter with wide international circulation. He is on the Editorial Advisory Board of The Electricity Journal where he is regularly featured in Electricity Currents section. He is a frequent contributor to Energy Policy and The Electricity Journal, and he serves on the editorial board of Utilities Policy. Major recent publications include the 2009 Elsevier volume, Electricity Generation in a Carbon Constrained World and the forthcoming 2010 book, In Search of A Carbon Neutral Future.

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Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry examines the current state of the electric supply industry; the upstream and downstream of the meter; the various technological, business, and regulatory strategies; and case studies that look at a number of projects that put new models into practice. A number of powerful trends are beginning to affect the fundamentals of the electric utility business as we know it. Recent developments have led to a fundamental re-thinking of the electric supply industry and its traditional method of measuring consumption on a volumetric basis. These developments include decreasing electricity demand growth; the rising cost of fossil fuels and its impact on electricity costs; investment in energy efficiency; increasing numbers of prosumers who generate for some or all of their own needs; and market reforms. This book examines the implications of these trends in chapters focusing on distributed and decentralized generation, transactive energy, the role of electric vehicles, any much more. Discusses the technological, business, and policy trends most impacting the electric utility sector Provides an assessment of how fast and how soon distributed energy resources may make an impact on utility sales/revenues Explores, through a series of international case studies, the implementation of strategies that may help retain the viability of the utility industry Features contributions from a number of scholars, academics, experts and practitioners from different parts of the world focused on examining the future of the electric supply industry