Selected Energy Analysis Projects
How Will Tomorrow’s Residential Energy Consumers Respond to Price Signals? Insights from a Texas Pricing Experiment by Jay Zarnikau, Shuangshuang Zhu, Ron Russell, Milton Holloway and Michael Dittmer, The Electricity Journal, Volume 28, Issue 7, August–September 2015, Pages 57–71
Tomorrow’s consumers likely will have the ability to monitor their appliance-specific energy usage, remotely program their HVAC system, live in more energy-efficient dwellings, obtain electricity through rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, drive plug-in electric vehicles, and have a generally higher level of knowledge about household energy usage. How will they respond to electricity price signals? The authors explored this question through pricing experiments at the Mueller neighborhood in Austin where, to some degree, ‘the future is now.’
Report on Consumer Responses to Various Pricing Incentives as Part of CCET's Stimulus Fund Grant (see Austin Pricing Experiment below)
Synchrophasors Across Texas: The Deployment of Phasor Measurement Technology in the ERCOT Region, by Kristian Koellner, Spenser Burks, Sarma Nuthalapati, Sidharth Rajagoplan, and Milton Holloway, IEEE Power & Energy Magazine, September/October 2015. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) serves as the independent system operator for most of the state of Texas. There is more than 74,000-MW capacity for peak demand and over 11,000 MW of operating wind generation capacity in ERCO T. In February 2015, wind generation reached a record output of 11,154 MW, which was 34% of the load at the time. Recognizing the benefits of synchronized phasor measurements, ERCOT began a project in 2008 to implement this technology in its operations and planning processes. The project, coordinated by the Center for the Commercialization of Electric Technologies (CCET) under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, engaged various entities, including ERCOT transmission owners (TOs) and the Electric Power Group (EPG). EPG contributed several real-time and offline data processing and analysis tools to the project, which were used by ERCOT engineers to monitor and study the synchrophasor data. These analyses have indicated that synchrophasor data can greatly improve operations procedures and planning studies at ERCOT. (See ERCOT NASPI Final Report below).
How Will Tomorrow’s Residential Energy Consumers Respond to Price Signals? Insights from a Texas Pricing Experiment by Jay Zarnikau, Shuangshuang Zhu, Ron Russell, Milton Holloway and Michael Dittmer, The Electricity Journal, Volume 28, Issue 7, August–September 2015, Pages 57–71
Tomorrow’s consumers likely will have the ability to monitor their appliance-specific energy usage, remotely program their HVAC system, live in more energy-efficient dwellings, obtain electricity through rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, drive plug-in electric vehicles, and have a generally higher level of knowledge about household energy usage. How will they respond to electricity price signals? The authors explored this question through pricing experiments at the Mueller neighborhood in Austin where, to some degree, ‘the future is now.’
Report on Consumer Responses to Various Pricing Incentives as Part of CCET's Stimulus Fund Grant (see Austin Pricing Experiment below)
Synchrophasors Across Texas: The Deployment of Phasor Measurement Technology in the ERCOT Region, by Kristian Koellner, Spenser Burks, Sarma Nuthalapati, Sidharth Rajagoplan, and Milton Holloway, IEEE Power & Energy Magazine, September/October 2015. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) serves as the independent system operator for most of the state of Texas. There is more than 74,000-MW capacity for peak demand and over 11,000 MW of operating wind generation capacity in ERCO T. In February 2015, wind generation reached a record output of 11,154 MW, which was 34% of the load at the time. Recognizing the benefits of synchronized phasor measurements, ERCOT began a project in 2008 to implement this technology in its operations and planning processes. The project, coordinated by the Center for the Commercialization of Electric Technologies (CCET) under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, engaged various entities, including ERCOT transmission owners (TOs) and the Electric Power Group (EPG). EPG contributed several real-time and offline data processing and analysis tools to the project, which were used by ERCOT engineers to monitor and study the synchrophasor data. These analyses have indicated that synchrophasor data can greatly improve operations procedures and planning studies at ERCOT. (See ERCOT NASPI Final Report below).
| austin_pricing_experiment.pdf |
| ercot_naspi_final_draft.ppt |
The Economic Impacts of the Mesa Power Project on a Five-County Region of the Texas Panhandle
Analysis of the planned Mesa Wind Farm Project in the Roberts County area of the Panhandle, and a separate study of the transmission line development as a backup to planned transmission capacity expansion under the CREZ process of the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT. (Cover & Table of Contacts).
The Economic Impacts of Mesa Wind Farm
Analysis of the planned Mesa Wind Farm Project in the Roberts County area of the Panhandle, and a separate study of the transmission line development as a backup to planned transmission capacity expansion under the CREZ process of the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT. (Cover & Table of Contacts).
The Economic Impacts of Mesa Wind Farm
| economic_impacts_of_mesa_wind_farm.pdf |
The Landed Cost of Crude Oil
A number of studies of comparisons of the costs of delivering foreign crude oil to refineries on the Gulf Coast at ports in Corpus Christi, Houston, Beaumont and Texas City. The analyses compare the total cost of delivering crude oil by VLCC and Suezmax vessels from foreign sources. (Cover & Table of Contacts).
Report on the Landed Cost of Crude Oil Among Major Texas PortsThe Economic Impacts of the Mesa Power Project on a Five-County Region of the Texas Panhandle
Analysis of the planned Mesa Wind Farm Project in the Roberts County area of the Panhandle, and a separate study of the transmission line development as a backup to planned transmission capacity expansion under the CREZ process of the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT. (Cover & Table of Contacts).
The Economic Impacts of Mesa Wind Farm
A number of studies of comparisons of the costs of delivering foreign crude oil to refineries on the Gulf Coast at ports in Corpus Christi, Houston, Beaumont and Texas City. The analyses compare the total cost of delivering crude oil by VLCC and Suezmax vessels from foreign sources. (Cover & Table of Contacts).
Report on the Landed Cost of Crude Oil Among Major Texas PortsThe Economic Impacts of the Mesa Power Project on a Five-County Region of the Texas Panhandle
Analysis of the planned Mesa Wind Farm Project in the Roberts County area of the Panhandle, and a separate study of the transmission line development as a backup to planned transmission capacity expansion under the CREZ process of the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT. (Cover & Table of Contacts).
The Economic Impacts of Mesa Wind Farm
| landed_cost_of_crude_oil_among_major_texas_ports.pdf |
Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Port Facility
Analysis of the economics of importing LNG to the Texas Gulf Coast at Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is among the most competitive locations in the U.S. for the development of new LNG terminals. (Cover & Table of Contacts).
LNG Project for La Quinta Channel Analysis
Analysis of the economics of importing LNG to the Texas Gulf Coast at Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is among the most competitive locations in the U.S. for the development of new LNG terminals. (Cover & Table of Contacts).
LNG Project for La Quinta Channel Analysis
| lng_project_la_quinta_channel.pdf |
Competition in the West Texas Natural Gas Pipeline Market
Analysis of the concentration and market power in the natural gas market of West Texas. The small number of firms in the market raised questions about market power for a dominant firm to charge supra-competitive prices for transportation.
Arkla-Entex Merger
Analysis of the concentration and market power of the merged companies and in the defense of the Arkla-Entex merger. An antitrust challenge to the Arkla-Entex merger was unsuccessful.
ETSI Antitrust Case for Area Electric Utilities
Analysis of competitive conditions for electric purchasers of Wyoming coal. Several electric utilities from Texas, including Austin Energy and LCRA brought suit against several railroads, including BN, achieving contact modifications to revise oil market-based price escalators for the rail transportation of Wyoming coal.
Texas Long Term Economic and Energy Outlook: 1990-2040
Long term energy outlook for Texas in support of the State of Texas Energy Policy Partnership (STEPP). STEPP was an energy planning process developed by the Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, Lena Guerrero, and the Governor’s Office.
Financial Analysis of Investment in a Natural Gas Utility Business
Analysis of competitive conditions for a local gas utility in competition with propane, fuel oil and electricity in a rural environment of Kentucky. A Texas firm examined an investment in the Kentucky gas utility.
Economic Impacts of an Increase in the Texas Severance Tax Rate for Crude Oil.
Analysis of the impacts of a proposed increase in the severance tax rate for crude oil produced in Texas.
Stranded Investment in the Electric Utility Market
Analysis of the recommended recovery of stranded investment upon completion of restructuring the Texas electric market.
Economic Impacts of the Longhorn Pipeline
Analysis of the Longhorn gasoline pipeline in comparison with alternatives for the El Paso gasoline market.
Analysis of the concentration and market power in the natural gas market of West Texas. The small number of firms in the market raised questions about market power for a dominant firm to charge supra-competitive prices for transportation.
Arkla-Entex Merger
Analysis of the concentration and market power of the merged companies and in the defense of the Arkla-Entex merger. An antitrust challenge to the Arkla-Entex merger was unsuccessful.
ETSI Antitrust Case for Area Electric Utilities
Analysis of competitive conditions for electric purchasers of Wyoming coal. Several electric utilities from Texas, including Austin Energy and LCRA brought suit against several railroads, including BN, achieving contact modifications to revise oil market-based price escalators for the rail transportation of Wyoming coal.
Texas Long Term Economic and Energy Outlook: 1990-2040
Long term energy outlook for Texas in support of the State of Texas Energy Policy Partnership (STEPP). STEPP was an energy planning process developed by the Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, Lena Guerrero, and the Governor’s Office.
Financial Analysis of Investment in a Natural Gas Utility Business
Analysis of competitive conditions for a local gas utility in competition with propane, fuel oil and electricity in a rural environment of Kentucky. A Texas firm examined an investment in the Kentucky gas utility.
Economic Impacts of an Increase in the Texas Severance Tax Rate for Crude Oil.
Analysis of the impacts of a proposed increase in the severance tax rate for crude oil produced in Texas.
Stranded Investment in the Electric Utility Market
Analysis of the recommended recovery of stranded investment upon completion of restructuring the Texas electric market.
Economic Impacts of the Longhorn Pipeline
Analysis of the Longhorn gasoline pipeline in comparison with alternatives for the El Paso gasoline market.