Policy Review

Examination of recent policy and regulatory initiatives

• New York's New Policy Requirements: To relieve grid congestion in the region

  October 6, 2015
  Western New York is facing a grid network congestion problem, which is limiting the output from the region's hydroelectric resources and restricting imports from Canada.

• US' New Cyber Security Standards: Aims to strengthen bulk electric system [free access]

  September 10, 2015
  The Unites States' Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is working on improving the cyber security norms for the country's bulk electric system (BES).

• Improving US' Grid Security: Congress introduces three new bills

  August 10, 2015
  In July 2015, the US Congress introduced three new bills to modernise energy infrastructure, bolster the country's energy security and diplomacy, promote energy efficiency and safeguard critical energy infrastructure.

• Japan's Power Sector Reforms: Law enacted to enable legal unbundling

  July 13, 2015
  Japan embarked on aggressive electricity market reforms as part of the larger Japan Revitalisation Strategy in 2013.

• Electricity Reforms in South Asia: Proposed amends to Electricity Acts

  June 10, 2015
  The South Asian countries of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are all reforming their electricity sector through amendments to their respective electricity laws.

• Germany to Amend Laws: To accelerate transmission development

  May 7, 2015
  The German government is trying hard to accelerate the slow pace of transmission infrastructure development in the country.

• Launching Mexico's Electricity Market: Draft guidelines announced

  April 10, 2015
  Following the energy reforms initiated in 2013, Mexico's electricity sector has witnessed a great deal of activity, at least on the policy front. In the latest development, the Secretaría de Energía (SENER) or the Ministry of Energy, framed draft guidelines for the creation of an electricity market.

• Australia's Grid Privatisation Plans: Aimed at reducing network costs [free access]

  March 10, 2015
  In June 2014, the state government of New South Wales (NSW) announced that it intends to privatise the NSW electricity networks.

• New Tariff Regulations in Portugal: Aim at rationalising network investment

  February 10, 2015
  The Portuguese energy regulator Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos (ERSE) recently enforced four new tariff regulations for the 2015-17 regulatory period.

• Shenzhen Power Grid Pilot Scheme: Aims to bring reforms in power sector

  January 8, 2015
  For over a decade, China's government has pledged to make its monopolistic power sector more transparent and competitive.

• EU's 2030 Climate Change Targets: Targets set for creating cleaner energy sector

  December 10, 2014
  While the European Union (EU) is believed to be making noteworthy progress towards meeting its ‘Climate and Energy Targets for 2020', an integrated policy framework is needed ...

• Ownership Unbundling: European network unbundling rules relaxed [free access]

  November 9, 2014
  On September 16, 2014, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) unveiled proposals to amend the implementation of the UK's energy ownership unbundling rules.

• Mexico's New Electricity Law: Reforms introduced to create competitive market [free access]

  October 1, 2014
  In August 2014, the Mexican government passed secondary energy reform laws, marking the conclusion of the legislative process aimed at reforming the country's energy sector.

• India Amends Forest Norms: Allows regional committees to grant approvals

  September 9, 2014
  The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has recently relaxed the forest clearance norms to fast track the approval process of infrastructure projects.

• North American Energy Infrastructure Act: Aims to streamline approval process

  August 11, 2014
  To ensure a more secure and efficient North American energy market, the US House of Representatives recently passed the North American Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R.3301) in June 2014.

• EC's Ecodesign Transformer Regulations: Expected to yield significant energy savings

  July 10, 2014
  Recently, in May 2014, the European Commission adopted the ecodesign regulation for transformers. These regulations will ensure that transformers become progressively more efficient as new units that are put into service in the European Union (EU) internal market will have to fulfil minimum energy efficiency requirements starting July 1, 2015.

• Ensuring grid security: NERC issues draft physical security reliability standard

  June 10, 2014
  To address physical security risks and vulnerabilities related to the reliable operation of the bulk power system, the North American Electric Reliability Commission (NERC) recently issued a draft of the proposed Physical Security Reliability Standard (CIP-014-1).

• DoE's New Cybersecurity Guidance: For strengthening grid supply chain

  May 1, 2014
  In a bid to make the power grid strong and secure, the US Department of Energy (DoE) released a new guidance, the Cybersecurity Procurement Language for Energy Delivery Systems, in April 2014.

• Liberalising Honduras' Power Sector: New electricity law passed

  April 1, 2014
  Recently in January 2014, the Honduran Congress passed the Electricity Industry Law, a legislation aimed at liberalising the country's energy sector, which has traditionally been dominated by state-owned power company Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE).

• Europe's Energy and Climate Change Goals: EC announces policy framework for 2030 [free access]

  March 7, 2014
  Recently in January 2014, the European Commission (EC) announced the new climate and energy targets for 2030, which will further the progress towards establishing a low-carbon economy and a competitive and secure energy system that ensures affordable energy for consumers, increases the security of energy supplies, reduces dependence on energy imports and creates new opportunities for growth and jobs.