Utilities Policy最新文献

{"title":"The dynamic relationship between carbon emissions and electricity tariffs in Ghana","authors":"Shafic Suleman ,&nbsp;Job Nagarmi Sowah ,&nbsp;John Abdulai Jinapor","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101952","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101952","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Establishing a clear relationship between carbon emissions and electricity tariffs is crucial for developing effective energy and environmental policies. In Ghana, electricity tariffs are determined using the rate of return methodology, which focuses on ensuring that electricity providers can recover costs and achieve a reasonable return on investment. However, this methodology currently excludes carbon emissions as a variable, resulting in tariffs that may not reflect the environmental costs associated with carbon emissions from electricity generation. The study investigated the relationship between carbon emissions generated from electricity generation and electricity tariffs in Ghana. Annual time series data from 1985 to 2021 were used. The research used the Autoregressive Distribution Lag (ARDL) (bounds test) methodology to establish the short-term and long-term relationships among variables. Based on the ARDL results, carbon emissions impacted tariffs positively in the long and short run. However, carbon emissions were reduced drastically in the long run, reflecting a decline in electricity tariffs. The study's findings indicate that, in the long run, a 1 % rise in the country's carbon emissions is directly associated with an increase in electricity tariffs of about 0.0153 %. However, a proportionate increase in carbon emissions in the short run is associated with an equivalent increase in electricity tariffs by 0.025 % at a 5 % significance level.</div><div>In conclusion, integrating carbon emissions into the electricity tariff-setting process is vital for creating Ghana's sustainable and environmentally responsible energy policy. By establishing a clear correlation between carbon emissions and electricity tariffs, policymakers can better align economic incentives with environmental goals. Encouragement of a favorable environment for renewable energy investments will contribute to reducing carbon emissions and support the long-term decline in electricity tariffs, aligning with global trends toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101952"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143906992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reversing privatization: Political distortions and performance outcomes in Buenos Aires water services","authors":"Ariel A. Casarin ,&nbsp;Augusto Mercadier","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101957","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101957","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We contribute to the debate on privatization reversals by examining the performance of the sanitation service concession in Greater Buenos Aires, one of the world's largest, across multiple political cycles. Using index number theory, we decompose operating profit growth into productivity and price performance, comparing political cycles during two distinct phases: private management and subsequent return to public management. Our findings show that under private management, productivity improved while prices declined. However, the privatization reversal is associated with a marked decline in performance, with productivity falling at twice the rate of rising relative prices. This adverse effect was somewhat mitigated under right-leaning governments. Furthermore, after the reversal, output prices fluctuated in line with the political cycle, suggesting potential price manipulation for electoral advantage. We also note that the shift to public management coincided with increased non-revenue water and a possible ideologization of commercial customer complaints.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101957"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143906993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nationwide diffusion of China's Transit Metropolis Pilot Program","authors":"Pengxiang Ding ,&nbsp;Suwei Feng ,&nbsp;Dorina Pojani","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101958","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101958","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China's Transit Metropolis Pilot (TMP) program is the world's most extensive initiative of its kind. Launched by the national government in 2010, the program has expanded to 117 mainland cities. This study employs a six-pronged policy diffusion framework to investigate the rapid adoption of the TMP nationwide. We analyze data from 280 larger cities between 2010 and 2017 using discrete event history analysis. Our findings indicate that the TMP program has been adopted primarily by cities with large populations, where there is high demand for public transport services and sufficient road space to support the expansion of public transport. The diffusion of the TMP program has been facilitated by contributions from every level of government, including the Ministry of Transport and provincial and prefectural authorities. Horizontal forces, such as intra-provincial competition, have played a role, too. Despite its success, the TMP program's diffusion has faced several local-level constraints, such as inadequate public transport infrastructure, lack of comprehensive Public Transport Development Plans, and weak fiscal capacity. Additionally, cities with a lower administrative status have been less successful in applying for or being selected as TMP cities. Over time, local governments' motivations for adopting the TMP program have evolved, reflecting changing priorities and conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101958"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143902533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Water for daily life: Estimating basic household water needs in Lima and Quito","authors":"Lisa Bagnoli,&nbsp;Clara Pasman,&nbsp;Tomás Serebrisky,&nbsp;Ben Solís Sosa","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101940","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101940","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper estimates the basic water needs, understood as the volume of water necessary to fulfill a household's core domestic activities, among low-income households in Lima (Peru) and Quito (Ecuador). It utilizes water utility records, detailed socioeconomic characteristics from a novel survey, and climate variables. In Lima, basic water needs are estimated at 15.9 m³ per household in July (winter) and 17.8 m³ in January (summer). With fewer seasonal variations in Quito, basic water needs are 20.2 m³ per household in both months. These results provide important insights for the design of water policies and tariff structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101940"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Energy resource productivity and environmental quality: A quantile-on-quantile study of Latin America from 1990 to 2022","authors":"Gonzalo H. Soto ,&nbsp;Manuel A. Zambrano-Monserrate ,&nbsp;Abdulmuttalip Pilatin ,&nbsp;Xavier Martinez-Cobas","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101944","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101944","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this research, we explore how renewable and fossil energy resource productivity impacted environmental quality in Latin American countries from 1990 to 2022, using quantiles for analysis. Our study reveals that renewable energy productivity (RENprod) has a stronger effect in countries with a smaller ecological footprint, diminishing in impact as the footprint grows. Conversely, fossil energy productivity (FENprod) shows an opposite trend. Overall, energy productivity is more likely to benefit environmentally friendly outcomes in countries with smaller footprints at lower quantiles. However, when considering the environmental condition based on the load capacity factor (LCF), which reflects the balance between natural resource supply and consumption, RENprod and FENprod contribute to environmental harm, with renewable energy causing significantly less harm. Consequently, we suggest policy measures to encourage renewable energy supply in sectors such as industries that support economic growth. These policies aim to facilitate a shift toward greener societies with lower environmental impact in the short term, thereby mitigating harmful environmental processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101944"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the relationship between electricity theft and customer payment habits: A machine-learning approach","authors":"Emine Ceren Özay,&nbsp;Erman Çakıt","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101955","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101955","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study applies machine learning models to historical data to predict the likelihood of debt repayment among customers previously identified as unlawful electricity users. Key predictive factors include past payment behavior, debt levels, demographic characteristics, and regional electricity leakage rates. While existing research on electricity theft predominantly emphasizes detection, repayment prediction remains underexplored. Moreover, although payment behavior analysis is well-established in the financial sector, its application in electricity is limited. This study addresses this gap by demonstrating the effectiveness of Gradient Boosting Machines (GBMs), which outperformed all other models with an accuracy of 90.98 %, an F1 score of 92.20, and an AUC of 0.91. These results highlight GBMs’ capability to manage imbalanced data and capture complex, nonlinear relationships. The findings offer practical value for electricity distribution companies in Türkiye by enabling proactive risk assessment and targeted revenue recovery strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101955"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of electricity demand in Spain by climatic zones","authors":"José M. Cansino ,&nbsp;Víctor Dugo ,&nbsp;Rocío Román-Collado ,&nbsp;Elisset Ribbot","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101947","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101947","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101947"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143878584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reuse of treated municipal wastewater in drylands: Multi-sector optimization analysis for middle Rio Grande case study","authors":"Oluwatosin A. Olofinsao,&nbsp;Jingjing Wang,&nbsp;Robert P. Berrens","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Growing populations and water demands in drylands, exacerbated by climate change, strain freshwater resources. This study constructs a regional, multi-sector optimization model to explore the economic effects of alternatives for reusing treated municipal wastewater (TMW) in drylands. Focusing on the Middle Rio Grande Basin in the southwestern state of New Mexico, USA, this investigation innovatively considers agriculture as a nutrient sink. The analysis develops a theoretical optimization model for TMW reuse across three sectors simultaneously: agricultural (commercial farming); urban (greenspace provision); and environmental (river instream flow provision). A constrained optimization is used to calculate the value of water in the commercial crop farming sector, and the benefit transfer approach is used to obtain water values in the urban and environmental sectors. Results indicate that water is valued roughly comparably in urban greenspace ($205.26 per acre-foot) and environmental ($220.39 per acre-foot) sectors, and while agriculture acts as a nutrient sink it still realizes a much lower water value ($28.30 per acre-foot). Therefore, it is recommended that policymakers and the municipal authority prioritize the allocation of TMW for environmental flow and urban greenspace. Understanding water's economic value across alternative uses is crucial information for water policy and governance in water-scarce regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101941"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143877328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can bureaucrats change light bulbs? Institutional constraints of energy poverty alleviation programs in Taiwan","authors":"Yu-Hsien Chen ,&nbsp;John Chung-En Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101950","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101950","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Since 2018, the Taiwan government has implemented “energy-vulnerable care measures,” focusing on replacing inefficient appliances to alleviate energy poverty. This paper examines the origin and implementation of these energy poverty alleviation programs. We explore how local governments identify energy-vulnerable populations and design suitable interventions by analyzing policy documents and semi-structured interviews with 35 frontline bureaucrats and program stakeholders. Our research revealed that the logic of energy conservation constrained the development of those supportive programs. There is a tendency to replicate familiar, easy-to-implement measures, such as light bulb replacements, even when they may not fully address local needs. In addition, fragmented governance, inadequate inter-bureau coordination, and high staff turnover further challenge effective implementation. Within this situation, overwhelmed bureaucrats, who often lack the necessary expertise, thus tend to depend heavily on contractors. This study is the first to explore Taiwan’s energy poverty governance and seeks to extend its findings to countries undergoing energy transition and facing emergent energy poverty. We call for improving local energy governance capacity and integrating energy poverty policies into broader social welfare frameworks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101950"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143873857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic effects in wholesale electricity markets from endogenous long-term forward contracts indexed to spot conditions","authors":"Camilo A. Gallego","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101946","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101946","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This analysis examines the economic impact of endogenous forward contracts (EFCs) in wholesale electricity markets, where contract hedging adjusts to spot market conditions rather than remaining fixed. This study applies economic theory to model the effects of forward contracts on spot prices over time and develop an econometric strategy for evaluation. By applying this framework to the Colombian electricity market, we find that a 5% share of EFCs can raise spot prices by 23%, increasing consumer costs by more than $700 million annually. These effects may intensify during extreme weather events, such as El Niño, exposing risks in market design. Our findings challenge the assumption that forward contracts inherently enhance competition and price stability, showing that firms with market power can exploit them. Results remain robust and statistically significant under various scenarios, including different opportunity costs. These insights underscore the need for regulatory oversight to ensure forward contracting fosters competitive outcomes, providing a strong foundation for improving market regulation in Colombia and other jurisdictions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 101946"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}