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Optimization of Time-Varying Electricity Rates

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  • Jacob Mays
  • Diego Klabjan

Abstract

Current consensus holds that 1) passing through wholesale electricity clearing prices to end-use consumers will produce maximal efficiency gains and 2) simpler forms of time-varying retail rates will capture only a small portion of potential benefits. We show that neither holds in the presence of capacity costs typical in U.S. wholesale markets. Using an optimization model describing the short-term problem faced by an electricity retailer, we find hourly prices that optimally pass through capacity costs. We estimate benefits for a retailer using these prices as well as optimal configurations of a number of time-varying rate structures. Testing a range of realistic assumptions, we find that in the absence of a well-designed demand charge, passing through clearing prices may miss up to three quarters of the benefits possible from optimal hourly prices. By contrast, a simpler critical peak pricing structure enables retailers to achieve approximately two-thirds of the total possible benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacob Mays & Diego Klabjan, 2017. "Optimization of Time-Varying Electricity Rates," The Energy Journal, , vol. 38(5), pages 67-92, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:enejou:v:38:y:2017:i:5:p:67-92
    DOI: 10.5547/01956574.38.5.jmay
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kathleen Spees & Lester Lave, 2008. "Impacts of Responsive Load in PJM: Load Shifting and Real Time Pricing," The Energy Journal, , vol. 29(2), pages 101-122, April.
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    Cited by:

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