Utilities Policy最新文献

{"title":"Internalizing CO2 emissions in Spanish port efficiency analysis: A stochastic frontier approach with policy insights","authors":"Andrea Rodríguez,&nbsp;Lourdes Trujillo","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent regulatory changes have impacted the European Union (EU) maritime sector. This study evaluates the effect of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions on the production frontier and Technical Efficiency (TE) of cargo handling services in Spain's 23 largest ports. Using the Material Balance Theorem, we justify the inclusion of CO₂ in a stochastic frontier model. Results show that accounting for emissions increases the weight of quasi-fixed inputs and reduces average inefficiency. These findings suggest that the new EU Maritime regulation (<em>FuelEU</em> and ETS) could help to internalize environmental externalities in port operations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102009"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144614324","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":"An overview of Brazil's electricity market: Planning, dispatch models, pricing, and modernization","authors":"Walquiria N. Silva ,&nbsp;Erik Eduardo Rego ,&nbsp;Giovani G.T.T. Vieira ,&nbsp;Luís F.N. Lourenço ,&nbsp;Mauricio B.C. Salles","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Brazilian electricity market is a highly complex system that operates under a centralized dispatch model, where generation is optimized based on cost-minimization principles. This structure has historically ensured energy security and ensured coordination of hydrothermal resources. However, as the electricity matrix evolves with increasing shares of variable renewable energy, new challenges emerge concerning operational flexibility, system balancing, and market efficiency. Unlike deregulated markets where short-term price signals and locational pricing mechanisms guide dispatch decisions, the Brazilian model remains heavily cost-driven and centrally coordinated, raising discussions about its long-term adaptability. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Brazilian electricity sector, focusing on dispatch optimization, system operation, and long-term planning frameworks as structured in 2025. The research condenses key aspects of the NEWAVE, DECOMP, and DESSEM models, detailing their role in hydrothermal scheduling and their limitations in accommodating a more dynamic and decentralized energy landscape. By consolidating fragmented discussions from the existing literature, this work bridges the knowledge gap on how Brazil's market operates and compares to more advanced market designs. Incorporating lessons learned from international experiences, the study aims to identify market mechanisms and regulatory frameworks that can enhance Brazil's pricing models, flexibility resources, and real-time system coordination. Ultimately, this study serves as a reference for the international energy community, presenting a comprehensive and structured analysis of the Brazilian electricity market. It explores potential avenues for modernization, informed by global best practices, the evolution of contemporary market paradigms, and the ongoing energy transition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102007"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596641","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":"A SWOT analysis for the evolution of Brazil’s renewable energy sector","authors":"Gláucia Fernandes Vasconcelos ,&nbsp;Hérika Atala Castilho","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101997","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101997","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Brazil’s renewable energy sector is vital for energy security and sustainability but faces internal and external challenges. The analysis identifies and classifies factors according to established criteria related to their internal or external nature and their positive or negative influence on deployment, competitiveness, and scalability. A key novelty of our study is the integrated application of a SWOT analysis based on a systematic literature review to assess, simultaneously and comparatively, four strategically important renewable energy sources (namely, solar photovoltaic, onshore wind, offshore wind, and green hydrogen), within the context of Brazil’s energy transition. Ninety-four key factors were analyzed across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Strengths include abundant resources and cost-competitive technologies, while weaknesses involve infrastructure constraints and regulatory uncertainty. Opportunities lie in technological advancements and international partnerships, but threats include market volatility and policy instability. The study generates interconnected strategic insights that go beyond single-technology analyses, providing actionable policy recommendations to address critical barriers, foster investment, and accelerate Brazil’s transition toward a resilient, diversified, and sustainable energy matrix.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101997"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596639","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 financial performance and sustainability in Namibia's electricity distribution sector","authors":"Hilkka Soondaha Etuna Aimwata ,&nbsp;Tafirenyika Sunde","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the drivers of financial performance and financial sustainability in Namibia's electricity distribution sector using a mixed-methods case analysis of Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (CENORED). Guided by contingency theory, it integrates econometric modelling and qualitative insights to understand how operational capabilities and external constraints shape utility outcomes. Key predictors include metering quality, staff competence, institutional trust, and socioeconomic stressors such as poverty and unemployment. The study reveals that internal improvements are contingent on local realities. It recommends region-specific tariff reforms, improved governance, and targeted infrastructure investment to enhance utility resilience in fragile political economies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102008"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144596640","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":"Examining the challenges and drivers of solar photovoltaic adoption in the twin cities of Pakistan","authors":"Zainab Parveen ,&nbsp;Verda Salman ,&nbsp;Faisal Jamil","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>After decades of electricity shortages, Pakistani households must transition to renewable energy for economic and environmental sustainability. With 87 % of homes lacking access to clean electricity, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems present a viable alternative. Beyond providing energy security, solar PV technology mitigates climate change by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. While PV systems have been successfully adopted in many countries, Pakistan's domestic solar potential remains largely untapped due to cost constraints. This study examines the adoption of solar PV systems among households in Pakistan's twin cities, considering socioeconomic and demographic factors. Although solar PV technology offers advantages over traditional power generation, several obstacles have hindered widespread adoption, with cost emerging as the primary barrier. The lack of sufficient government support has also slowed adoption. Other challenges include low household income, location of the house, and homeownership status. However, environmental concerns and the availability of solar equipment in local markets have encouraged some households to invest in solar PV systems. A three-stage random sample approach was used to select 501 twin-city families. Only 25 % of households have solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, despite 77 % using electrical backups during power outages. According to the Double Hurdle (DH) regression model, households with more educated heads are more likely to install solar PV systems. Homeownership and peer influence also boost adoption rates. Many households avoid switching due to the expense of upfront expenditures and unsuitable dwelling locations, such as apartments. Tax incentives and subsidies for home solar systems could boost adoption, help stabilize power supply, and mitigate climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102005"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588301","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":"Extreme temperatures and residential electricity reliability in China","authors":"Tie Shi ,&nbsp;Hanyi Chen ,&nbsp;Yanzhen Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change is anticipated to influence the electricity reliability through rapidly intensifying extreme weather events. Changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme temperatures can therefore affect the probability of a power outage. This study examines the impact of extreme temperatures on electricity reliability. Our main findings are that: (1) Electricity reliability appears more vulnerable to extreme cold temperatures in the early decades of the 21st century, with a shift toward greater sensitivity to high temperatures in more recent periods. (2) Evidence indicates that extreme heat leads to prolonged and more frequent power outages for rural residents compared to their urban counterparts. The findings offer valuable insights for developing mitigation and adaptation strategies in the electricity sector in response to climate change risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102004"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557180","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":"Consumer perspectives on demand-based electricity tariffs: Lessons from a Swedish pilot study","authors":"A. Nilsson,&nbsp;C. Bartusch","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102003","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102003"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144534364","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":"How do European Union electric utilities contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals? Empirical insights on reporting and management control practices","authors":"Shekerta Aliu,&nbsp;Albert Anton Traxler,&nbsp;Dorothea Greiling","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101966","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101966","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the need for collective action to ensure economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social cohesion for the benefit of present and future generations. As key players in the transition to a sustainable economy, electric utilities face pressure to report on their contribution to the SDGs and to implement appropriate management control practices to ensure progress. This study investigates reporting on the SDGs and the management control practices adopted by 28 large electric utilities within the European Union. The disclosure index reveals that contributions to the SDGs are reported, albeit to varying degrees depending on the goal. In terms of management control practices, content analysis shows that administrative controls are used particularly extensively, but cultural controls, planning, cybernetic, and reward and compensation systems are also employed, suggesting that electric utilities are moving toward a holistic management control approach. The results support academic debate and offer practical insights in light of the changes brought about by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards and the recent Omnibus package.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101966"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144523525","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":"The effect of subsidies, climate, and technology on residential electricity consumption in Qatar","authors":"Esmat Zaidan ,&nbsp;Sa'd Shannak ,&nbsp;Logan Cochrane","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101998","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101998","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper examines the relationship between governmental subsidies, temperature changes, technological advancements, and residential electricity consumption in Qatar by using empirical analysis. This research aims to explore a topic that is rarely explored in current literature. It uses stochastic frontier analysis to measure energy efficiency and identify factors that cause inefficiencies in electricity consumption. The analysis considers the extent to which government subsidies affect residential electricity consumption, how changes in temperature influence electricity consumption in an economy sensitive to climate change, and how technology affects this consumption. The findings indicate that subsidy elasticity of electricity demand is positive, with a 1 % increase in subsidies leading to a 1.01 % rise in electricity consumption for flats. Reflecting Qatar's climate influence, temperature also correlates positively with usage. Technology has a minimal impact on demand, suggesting that improvements in energy efficiency can help reduce consumption. Our research highlights important policy implications, recommending changes to the current subsidy structure and efforts to improve energy efficiency in Qatar.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101998"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144518735","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":"Operational efficiency and service quality of Indian electricity distribution utilities: A three-stage DEA and Malmquist Index analysis","authors":"Sufia,&nbsp;Anoop Singh,&nbsp;Shambhavi Mishra","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.102001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Indian power sector has progressed through distinct phases of reform and restructuring to attract private investment and enhance both operational and financial performance. Despite two decades of reforms, the sector's financial stability remains closely tied to the performance of electricity distribution utilities. The tariff-setting framework for distribution utilities largely relies on cost-of-service regulation, incorporating performance improvement targets. However, the prudence checks for approving distribution utilities' costs often lack a benchmarking approach. Distribution utilities exhibit variability in costs, service quality, and operational efficiency. Previous studies on Indian distribution utilities have focused on operational and financial parameters while neglecting the service quality dimensions of utilities. This paper considers service quality in the form of reliability indices of Indian distribution utilities for the first time, in addition to traditional parameters. This study employs a novel three-stage data envelopment analysis (3S-DEA) approach to evaluate operational efficiency, while the Malmquist Index is implemented to analyse efficiency and technological change from 2016–17 to 2019–20. Significant differences in the performance of distribution utilities within the same state were observed. Improvements in efficiency scores are observed for the distribution utilities after considering service quality parameters. The findings highlight the importance of considering service quality parameters when evaluating the operational efficiency of distribution utilities. The results obtained from this study will be helpful for policymakers, regulators, and utility management in identifying inefficiency determinants and designing effective strategies to improve operational performance. Furthermore, such periodical benchmarking exercises could be incorporated into the review process by Indian state regulators to better incentivise or penalise utilities based on their performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102001"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144513577","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}