Industries: Energy

Future-proofing in Australia’s electricity distribution industry (FDPI): Review of policies and incentives, and advice on policy responses

by Marchmenthill

Recent Engagement: Small-scale renewable distributed generation, demand-side management (DSM) and storage are playing an increasingly important role in our energy mix. These new technologies represent a new future for distribution networks, and the broader electricity industry. However, their proliferation within the incumbent system is highly dependent upon the regulatory, policy settings and these may be adversely…

MHC presents ARENA work at All Energy Conference (October 2014)

by Marchmenthill

MHC News: MHC Senior Consultant, Ryan Wavish, presented at the All Energy conference (October 2014) in Melbourne on our recent work for ARENA. The presentation, entitled “Worldwide Approaches to Integrating Renewables into the Grid”, covered the results of the global research MHC conducted in partnership with VaasaETT to collect details on 176 projects from around…

Monopoly regulation of electricity infrastructure must be replaced

by Marchmenthill

Much has been written about the economic challenges facing the network infrastructure that serves the National Electricity Market (NEM). Recent contributions by the Grattan Institute and the Energy Networks Association (ENA) are good examples of this. And while these contributions could be interpreted as taking opposing positions, both offer a guide to the path ahead….

ARENA selects MHC to conduct renewable energy integration study

by Marchmenthill

Marchment Hill has been selected by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to research and assemble the best lessons from Australia and overseas on how network companies, regulators and others can manage increasing levels of renewables and related technologies in Australia’s electricity distribution grids. Our study will cover the many studies, trials and pilots launched…

The Power of One: Designing a better relationship between retailers and networks to rescue a declining industry

by Marchmenthill

Customers are turning away from the grid in favour of alternative energy supply options at comparable cost. These alternatives can even command a price premium over the grid; in part, due to new entrants successfully identifying and selling to customer needs, and also due to customers’ levels of frustration and mistrust toward the traditional electricity…

Goodbye ‘SAM’ – hello CASAM

by Marchmenthill

Placing customer preferences, small-scale technology, and emergent business model trends at the heart of energy forecasting The Strategic Asset Management model (SAM) has been at the heart of thinking inside regulated network asset businesses for decades. The model acknowledges the role of three key functions inside these businesses: Owner, Manager, and Service Provider. The uses…

Lessons from the Californian electricity market

by Marchmenthill

The Californian Electricity market is highly progressive. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has recently mandated the purchase of 1325MW of energy storage by 2020; California’s Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) have installed over 14 million smart meters, Pacific Gas & Electric (one of California’s largest IOUs) currently has 12 different demand response products; California has…

Do we need another contestable market, or a market that’s more contestable?

by Marchmenthill

Is there a lack of meaningful competition in the electricity retail sector? The idea of Contestability has been topical lately. One of the AEMC’s many Power of Choice review recommendations is the creation of a new contestable market for Demand-Side Participation (DSP), alongside the existing contestable market for energy retailing, so that providers of demand…

Is SAM dead?

by Marchmenthill

The Strategic Asset Management (SAM) framework has been widely adopted by network utilities across the globe and its principles are largely applied in the design of their operating models. The electricity industry is currently facing a number of significant trends including a wider availability of more economic electricity supply alternatives (e.g. PV), falling electricity demand…