Chernetska Y. Performance management of electric power distribution systems under incentive regulation

Thesis of candidate degree (PhD) in technical sciences on speciality 05.14.01 − Energy systems and complexes. − National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, 2019. The thesis is devoted to solving and scientific substantiation of theoretical and practical issues of performance management of electric power distribution systems by means of improvement and elaboration of methods and tools for evaluation and estimation the distribution system operators (DSOs) activities under incentive regulation. The thesis presents the results of complex analysis of the problems in the field of performance management of electric power distribution systems of Ukraine with the focus on improving network efficiency during the distribution system development (new construction for system expansion, reconstruction and modernization of the existing networks). This analysis had shown a new role of DSOs in modern distribution planning, and the importance to set up by electricity market regulator some incentives for improving the network efficiency; also the key characteristics of the electric power distribution systems were identified, which are “technical condition”, “reliability”, “load level” and “innovativeness”. Considering the available information from the DSOs’ reports about electric power distribution systems development, the open list of indicators and evaluation criteria broken down by the mentioned key characteristics is proposed to calculate the DSOs’ performance rating. Applying of these criteria in conjunction with weighting patterns will highlight priority areas of regulatory policy. Annual review of the DSOs’ performance rating is offered as a tool for electricity market regulator to establish the long-term measurable benchmarks for the level of network efficiency and to improve the expenditure transparency contained in the investment programs of DSOs. At the level of DSO, a generalized index for evaluating the level of electric power distribution system efficiency, which includes its technical condition, reliability, load level and innovativeness, is proposed; this efficiency index differs through using Mamdani fuzzy inference system to formalize decision-making process by means of representing the expert knowledge of humans to set of fuzzy rules with linguistic variables. The thesis also considers cooperation between electricity market regulator, DSOs and stakeholders with the aim of modern distribution planning through developing the information platform “Ukrainian Smart Energy − USE” in order to information sharing and best practice dissemination among DSOs. Regulatory and legal provisions were updated to support DSOs activities for distribution system development. Key words: electric power distribution system, efficiency, distribution system operator, estimation, electricity market regulator