Policy Review

Examination of recent policy and regulatory initiatives

• NYISO’s proposed revisions to OATT : For improving transparency and efficiency

  February 11, 2019
  The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)—a regional transmission operator (RTO) operating in the US—has proposed some revisions to its Public Policy....

• Privatisation of Puerto Rico’s T&D Assets: PPP process underway [free access]

  January 10, 2019
  The weaknesses in Puerto Rico’s electrical grid network were made obvious following the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, which resulted...

• Proposed amendments to India’s Electricity Act: Reflect changed sector realities

  December 11, 2018
  In a move that could be a potential game changer for the power sector, the Indian government recently released the draft amendments to the Electricity Act 2003...

• Strengthening Cyber Security: FERC approves new CIP reliability standards

  November 14, 2018
  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved new mandatory Supply Chain Risk Management Reliability Standards in order to reduce the supply chain risks...

• PPP in Transmission: Spreading across regions, growing in quantum [free access]

  October 11, 2018
  Power transmission is one of the most important links in the electricity value chain. The growth of any power sector is highly dependent on the development of a robust...

• Push to Energiewende: Germany launches new Electricity Grid Action Plan

  September 13, 2018
  The progress of Germany’s energy transition policy, popularly known as Energiewende, has been sluggish. The country’s plan to completely phase-out nuclear by 2022 and increase the share of renewables...

• MISO to revert to old rules on funding of interconnection-related network upgrades

  August 10, 2018
  In a significant development, the US’ Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) has proposed to restore provisions in its Open Access Transmission, Energy ...

• EU Exemption Process for Cross-border Links

  July 10, 2018
  Cross-border interconnectors are central to achieving an internal energy market in the European Union (EU). While incumbent transmission system developers....

• Eletrobras’ Privatisation: Legal hurdles delay the government’s efforts

  June 11, 2018
  In a bid to revive its economic growth, Brazil has been promoting private investments under the famed Investment Partnership Program (PPI or Programa de Parcerias de....

• UK Ofgem's RIIO-2 Price Control: Aimed at achieving stronger consumer engagement

  May 11, 2018
  In the past, it was relatively straightforward to articulate the aims and objectives of the energy network price controls in the United Kingdom (UK).

• Kenya leading Africa's transmission sector: Attracting private investments

  April 11, 2018
  In the African subcontinent, Kenya has witnessed steady growth in public-private partnership (PPP) projects across diverse sectors over the last few years...

• India’s Cybersecurity Concerns: Government takes steps to secure the grid [free access]

  March 12, 2018
  Recent months have witnessed an exponential increase in cyber attacks on critical infrastructure across the globe. The famous cyber attacks on the Ukraine grid in 2015...

• FERC's new rulemaking: Revisiting grid resilience in US BPS

  February 12, 2018
  The issues of grid resilience and reliability of the US bulk power system (BPS) have occupied centrestage in the country of late.

• Grid Alert: NERC’s 2017 LTRA report flags reliability concerns facing American BPS

  January 8, 2018
  The US electricity industry is facing unprecedented changes. In 2016, for the first time in history, natural gas replaced coal as the leading source of electricity generation.

• Alternatives to UK’s CATO: Competition for onshore projects still Ofgem's agenda [free access]

  December 8, 2017
  Electricity transmission, in general, remains a monopoly business. While governments world over have successfully introduced competition in generation, only a few countries have...

• Mexico’s New Contracting Model: A step closer to follow competitive solicitation

  November 14, 2017
  In line with its efforts to promote private investment in electricity transmission, Mexico’s Secretaría de Energía (SENER) or Ministry of Energy recently published a draft on the new contracting model it proposes to adopt for awarding transmission projects.

• Nepal’s Power Sector: Initiatives to create NERC and increase private participation

  October 10, 2017
  The lack of significant regulatory and policy reforms in Nepal’s electricity market has been a serious setback to the generation, transmission and fair distribution...

• Energy Storage in UK: Measures proposed to remove policy and regulatory barriers

  September 5, 2017
  A global transition to a low carbon economy is being witnessed. The United Kingdom (UK) has been a frontrunner in this transition with the government in 2008 establishing a legally binding target to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.

• India’s EV Push: White paper on increasing penetration and its impact on the grid

  August 8, 2017
  The government has announced an ambitious goal to switch to electric cars by 2030 and phase out diesel and petrol cars. To understand the challenges of the proliferation of...

• Restructuring Canada’s Energy Regulatory Board: Aims to restore public trust [free access]

  July 7, 2017
  Canada’s energy regulator – National Energy Board (NEB) – is proposed to be restructured and modernised to position the entity as a modern, efficient and effective energy regulator. The move is also aimed at restoring public trust in the country’s regulatory process.