IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v169y2022ics0301421522003949.html

Rethinking electricity rate design: Fostering the energy transition in North Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Hendam, Mohamed
  • Schittekatte, Tim
  • Abdel-Rahman, Mohamed
  • Kamh, Mohamed Zakaria

Abstract

The need for the redesign of electricity end user rates when faced with the increasing adoption of behind-the-meter (BTM) technologies, such as solar PV and batteries, has been well documented in the context of liberalised power sectors. This paper focusses on rate design for North African utilities. Applying a game-theoretical model, we illustrate that differences in regulation, infrastructure, and the socio-economic context justify a tailored analysis. We show that with more uptake of BTM technologies, the popular volumetric increasing block tariff result in a regulatory trilemma between equity, cost recovery for distribution and supply companies (DISCO), and cost recovery for the single buyer entity (SBE). We also find that an investor-owned DISCO is more exposed to cost recovery issues than its counterpart in geographies with retail competition. We recommend transitioning to an end user rate with increased differentiated fixed charges and warn that merely revising rates might not be enough; wider reforms are needed to ensure an equitable and efficient energy transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Hendam, Mohamed & Schittekatte, Tim & Abdel-Rahman, Mohamed & Kamh, Mohamed Zakaria, 2022. "Rethinking electricity rate design: Fostering the energy transition in North Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:169:y:2022:i:c:s0301421522003949
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113172
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421522003949
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113172?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Reneses, Javier & Gómez, Tomás & Rivier, Juan & Angarita, Jorge L., 2011. "Electricity tariff design for transition economies: Application to the Libyan power system," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 33-43, January.
    2. Abdelmotteleb, Ibtihal & Gómez, Tomás & Chaves Ávila, José Pablo & Reneses, Javier, 2018. "Designing efficient distribution network charges in the context of active customers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 815-826.
    3. Candas, Soner & Siala, Kais & Hamacher, Thomas, 2019. "Sociodynamic modeling of small-scale PV adoption and insights on future expansion without feed-in tariffs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 521-536.
    4. Shahid Hasan & Turki Al-Aqeel & Hafez El Salmawy, 2020. "Electricity Sector Liberalization in Eqypt: Features, Challenges, and Opportunities for Market Integration," Discussion Papers ks--2020-dp20, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center.
    5. Ioannis N. Kessides, 2004. "Reforming Infrastructure : Privatization, Regulation, and Competition," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13525, April.
    6. Severin Borenstein, 2017. "Private Net Benefits of Residential Solar PV: The Role of Electricity Tariffs, Tax Incentives, and Rebates," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(S1), pages 85-122.
    7. Eid, Cherrelle & Reneses Guillén, Javier & Frías Marín, Pablo & Hakvoort, Rudi, 2014. "The economic effect of electricity net-metering with solar PV: Consequences for network cost recovery, cross subsidies and policy objectives," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 244-254.
    8. Defeuilley, Christophe, 2009. "Retail competition in electricity markets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 377-386, February.
    9. repec:aen:journl:ej41-1-burger is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Foster,Vivien & Witte,Samantha Helen, 2020. "Falling Short : A Global Survey of Electricity Tariff Design," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9174, The World Bank.
    11. Castaneda, Monica & Jimenez, Maritza & Zapata, Sebastian & Franco, Carlos J. & Dyner, Isaac, 2017. "Myths and facts of the utility death spiral," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 105-116.
    12. Bushnell, James, 2004. "California's electricity crisis: a market apart?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(9), pages 1045-1052, June.
    13. Govaerts, Niels & Bruninx, Kenneth & Le Cadre, Hélène & Meeus, Leonardo & Delarue, Erik, 2019. "Spillover effects of distribution grid tariffs in the internal electricity market: An argument for harmonization?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    14. Paul L. Joskow, 1989. "Regulatory Failure, Regulatory Reform, and Structural Change in the Electrical Power Industry," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 20(1989 Micr), pages 125-208.
    15. Mr. Trevor Serge Coleridge Alleyne & Mr. Mumtaz Hussain, 2013. "Energy Subsidy Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experiences and Lessons," IMF Departmental Papers / Policy Papers 2013/002, International Monetary Fund.
    16. Hittinger, Eric & Siddiqui, Jawad, 2017. "The challenging economics of US residential grid defection," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 27-35.
    17. Gorman, Will & Jarvis, Stephen & Callaway, Duncan, 2020. "Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The importance of electricity rate design for household defection from the power grid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    18. repec:aen:journl:ej38-3-brown is not listed on IDEAS
    19. repec:aen:journl:ej41-5-schittekatte is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Rudnick,Hugh & Velasquez,Constantin, 2018. "Taking stock of wholesale power markets in developing countries : a literature review," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8519, The World Bank.
    21. Hoarau, Quentin & Perez, Yannick, 2019. "Network tariff design with prosumers and electromobility: Who wins, who loses?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 26-39.
    22. Simshauser, Paul, 2016. "Distribution network prices and solar PV: Resolving rate instability and wealth transfers through demand tariffs," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 108-122.
    23. Batlle, Carlos & Mastropietro, Paolo & Rodilla, Pablo, 2020. "Redesigning residual cost allocation in electricity tariffs: A proposal to balance efficiency, equity and cost recovery," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 257-266.
    24. Schittekatte, Tim & Momber, Ilan & Meeus, Leonardo, 2018. "Future-proof tariff design: Recovering sunk grid costs in a world where consumers are pushing back," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 484-498.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Morell-Dameto, Nicolás & Chaves-Ávila, José Pablo & Gómez San Román, Tomás & Schittekatte, Tim, 2023. "Forward-looking dynamic network charges for real-world electricity systems: A Slovenian case study," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    2. George, Babu, 2025. "Balancing Utility Solvency and Customer Protection: A Comprehensive Framework for Extraordinary Cost Recovery in Regulated Energy Markets," SocArXiv 49r5w_v1, Center for Open Science.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vaughan, Jim & Doumen, Sjoerd C. & Kok, Koen, 2023. "Empowering tomorrow, controlling today: A multi-criteria assessment of distribution grid tariff designs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).
    2. Nicolás Morell Dameto & José Pablo Chaves-Ávila & Tomás Gómez San Román, 2020. "Revisiting Electricity Network Tariffs in a Context of Decarbonization, Digitalization, and Decentralization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Morell-Dameto, Nicolás & Chaves-Ávila, José Pablo & Gómez San Román, Tomás & Schittekatte, Tim, 2023. "Forward-looking dynamic network charges for real-world electricity systems: A Slovenian case study," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    4. Hoarau, Quentin & Perez, Yannick, 2019. "Network tariff design with prosumers and electromobility: Who wins, who loses?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 26-39.
    5. Moncada, J.A. & Tao, Z. & Valkering, P. & Meinke-Hubeny, F. & Delarue, E., 2021. "Influence of distribution tariff structures and peer effects on the adoption of distributed energy resources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    6. Miguel Manuel de Villena & Raphael Fonteneau & Axel Gautier & Damien Ernst, 2019. "Evaluating the Evolution of Distribution Networks under Different Regulatory Frameworks with Multi-Agent Modelling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, March.
    7. Lu, Yucun & Gorrasi, Chiara & Meus, Jelle & Bruninx, Kenneth & Delarue, Erik, 2024. "System-wide benefits of temporal alignment of wholesale–retail electricity prices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 373(C).
    8. Beaufils, Timothé & Pineau, Pierre-Olivier, 2019. "Assessing the impact of residential load profile changes on electricity distribution utility revenues under alternative rate structures," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    9. Govaerts, Niels & Bruninx, Kenneth & Le Cadre, Hélène & Meeus, Leonardo & Delarue, Erik, 2019. "Spillover effects of distribution grid tariffs in the internal electricity market: An argument for harmonization?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    10. Avau, Michiel & Govaerts, Niels & Delarue, Erik, 2021. "Impact of distribution tariffs on prosumer demand response," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    11. Spiller, Elisheba & Esparza, Ricardo & Mohlin, Kristina & Tapia-Ahumada, Karen & Ünel, Burçin, 2023. "The role of electricity tariff design in distributed energy resource deployment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    12. Masciandaro, Carlotta & Mulder, Machiel & Kesina, Michaela, 2025. "Distributional effects of the Dutch net-metering scheme for residential solar panels," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    13. Manuel de Villena, Miguel & Jacqmin, Julien & Fonteneau, Raphael & Gautier, Axel & Ernst, Damien, 2021. "Network tariffs and the integration of prosumers: The case of Wallonia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    14. Askeland, Magnus & Backe, Stian & Bjarghov, Sigurd & Korpås, Magnus, 2021. "Helping end-users help each other: Coordinating development and operation of distributed resources through local power markets and grid tariffs," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    15. Timothé Beaufils & Pierre-Olivier Pineau, 2018. "Structures tarifaires et spirale de la mort : État des lieux des pratiques de tarification dans la distribution d’électricité résidentielle," CIRANO Working Papers 2018s-27, CIRANO.
    16. Freitas Gomes, Icaro Silvestre & Perez, Yannick & Suomalainen, Emilia, 2020. "Coupling small batteries and PV generation: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    17. Hennig, Roman J. & Ribó-Pérez, David & de Vries, Laurens J. & Tindemans, Simon H., 2022. "What is a good distribution network tariff?—Developing indicators for performance assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    18. Gorman, Will & Barbose, Galen & Pablo Carvallo, Juan & Baik, Sunhee & Miller, Chandler & White, Philip & Praprost, Marlena, 2023. "County-level assessment of behind-the-meter solar and storage to mitigate long duration power interruptions for residential customers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    19. Khan, Hafiz Anwar Ullah & Ünel, Burçin & Dvorkin, Yury, 2023. "Electricity Tariff Design via Lens of Energy Justice," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    20. Claudia Gunther & Wolf-Peter Schill & Alexander Zerrahn, 2019. "Prosumage of solar electricity: tariff design, capacity investments, and power system effects," Papers 1907.09855, arXiv.org.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:169:y:2022:i:c:s0301421522003949. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.