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The authors present a novel concept of virtual system operator (VSO) and its mechanism. This mechanism aims to determine load consumption pattern on day‐ahead basis which suits all the involved entities individually in real‐time pricing environment. The demand profile is scheduled by every consumer by performing demand response (DR) without having to coordinate with other consumers in the system. In the process flow, the VSO which remains in communication with the system operator and the consumer relays information regarding day‐ahead electricity tariff to consumers. Based on which the consumers simultaneously perform DR to optimise their electricity bill and forward the schedule to the VSO. This process repeats iteratively until a balanced price profile as well as load schedule is established in the system. Such schedules are capable of reducing dynamics in the electricity market. The proposed concept is demonstrated through three different types of consumers. These consumers realise DR through different objective functions and up to different extents. Ultimately, the load schedules are obtained for all individual users and corresponding price profile which suits every entity of the system.

One of the worldwide modern instruments to increase power efficiency is the price-dependent electricity consumption. It is one of the elements in managing the demand for power consumption. The programs of price-dependent power consumption are globally relevant. However, in Russia, their development is still on a conceptual phase. This paper analyses regional tariffs for the power transmission from the perspective of encouraging consumers to price-dependent demand management for electricity consumption. We examine the structure of final electricity tariffs for various categories of consumers as well as identify the percentage rate for the electricity transmission for each category. We consider the methodology of single-part and two-part tariffs for electricity transmission, their structure, and advantages of application. On the example of Volga Federal District tariffs, we have calculated single-part and two-part tariffs for the power transmission in industrial enterprises in terms of three typical schedules of electricity consumption. To compare the efficiency of the price-dependent demand management for the electricity transmission in different regions of Russia, we have introduced the indicators “coefficient of the transmission tariff” and “integral coefficient of the transmission tariff”. Furthermore, we made calculations for 65 regions of Russia entering the price zones of power wholesale market. As a result of the analysis, we divided Russian regions of Russia according to the indicator of “integrated coefficient of transmission tariff” in 3 administrative groups. For each group, we have developed recommendations on pricedependent demand management for power transmission. The theoretical significance of the research consists in the development of methods for the analysis and selection of the most appropriate industrial enterprise tariff for electricity transmission. In practice, regional authorities can use the developed groups of regions to change the structure of regional tariffs in order to stimulate consumers to price-dependent power consumption. Moreover, the algorithm for calculating tariffs for electricity transmission can be applied by the industrial Russia enterprises in price-dependent demand management of power consumption to choose an optimum tariff and reduce costs on power transmission.

Large and growing subsidies to residential consumers in Mexico have become a major policy concern. This report explains the growth of subsidies, the current distribution of subsidies across income classes, and uses utility and household survey data to simulate how alternative subsidy mechanisms could improve distributional and fiscal performance. The goal is to help inform discussion in Mexico about how to reduce subsidies and redirect them toward the poor. The findings also offer lessons for other countries that are planning tariff reforms in their electricity sectors.

The article is devoted to the analysis and evaluation of the potential of the electric structure of Russian regions. The authors introduce the category of the “potential of electric infrastructure” understood as the integrated indicator characterizing the regional power infrastructure. The authors assess the potential of electric infrastructure on the basis of the proposed methodology and the developed indicators: “the ratio of electricity tariff”, “coefficient of technological connection”, “integral coefficient of electric infrastructure potential.” The article presents the results of testing the developed method on the example of the analysis and evaluation of the characteristics of electric power infrastructure of Russian regions. The result of testing was the construction of a rating of regions by the level of electric infrastructure potential. On the basis of the calculated parameters of electric infrastructure potential, we developed a map and a matrix of indicators of the potential of electric infrastructure of Russian regions. This allowed to classify Russian regions to several groups. The practical value of the map and matrix of the potential of electric infrastructure of Russian regions is the possibility to conduct the comparative assessment of the characteristics of the electric infrastructure of the territorial units and enables more informed management and decision-making concerning the choice of the most effective industrial investment. In addition, based on the developed indicators of electric infrastructure potential, the authors propose the improvement of the existing methods for the evaluation of investment potential of Russian regions. Previous research on the investment potential of regions does not take in account the characteristics of the potential of elecrtic infrastructure. The obtained results are of a theoretical and practical importance and can be used for the energy efficiency management of territorial units as well as for the analysis of the potential of electric infrastructure of possible industrial investments with the aim of increasing it.

This book reviews Latin America's experience with infrastructure reform over the last fifteen years. It argues that the region's infrastructure has suffered from public retrenchment and unrealistic expectations about private involvement. Poor infrastructure now hampers productivity, growth, and poverty reduction. Addressing this requires more and better spending, and acceptance that governments remain central to infrastructure provision and supervision, although the private sector still has an important role to play.

Workers' remittances have become a major source of financing for developing countries and are especially important in Latin America and the Caribbean, which is at the top of the ranking of remittance receiving regions in the world. While there has been a recent surge in analytical work on the topic, this book is motivated by the large heterogeneity in migration and remittance patterns across countries and regions, and by the fact that existing evidence for Latin America and the Caribbean is restricted to only a few countries, such as Mexico and El Salvador. Because the nature of the phenomenon varies across countries, its development impact and policy implications are also likely to differ in ways that are still largely unknown. This book helps fill the gap by exploring, in the specific context of Latin America and Caribbean countries, some of the main questions faced by policymakers when trying to respond to increasing remittances flows. The book relies on cross-country panel data and household surveys for 11 Latin American countries to explore the development impact of remittance flows along several dimensions: growth, poverty, inequality, schooling, health, labor supply, financial development, and real exchange rates.

One of the worldwide modern instruments to increase power efficiency is the price-dependent electricity consumption. It is one of the elements in managing the demand for power consumption. The programs of price-dependent power consumption are globally relevant. However, in Russia, their development is still on a conceptual phase. This paper analyses regional tariffs for the power transmission from the perspective of encouraging consumers to price-dependent demand management for electricity consumption. We examine the structure of final electricity tariffs for various categories of consumers as well as identify the percentage rate for the electricity transmission for each category. We consider the methodology of single-part and two-part tariffs for electricity transmission, their structure, and advantages of application. On the example of Volga Federal District tariffs, we have calculated single-part and two-part tariffs for the power transmission in industrial enterprises in terms of three typical schedules of electricity consumption. To compare the efficiency of the price-dependent demand management for the electricity transmission in different regions of Russia, we have introduced the indicators “coefficient of the transmission tariff” and “integral coefficient of the transmission tariff”. Furthermore, we made calculations for 65 regions of Russia entering the price zones of power wholesale market. As a result of the analysis, we divided Russian regions of Russia according to the indicator of “integrated coefficient of transmission tariff” in 3 administrative groups. For each group, we have developed recommendations on pricedependent demand management for power transmission. The theoretical significance of the research consists in the development of methods for the analysis and selection of the most appropriate industrial enterprise tariff for electricity transmission. In practice, regional authorities can use the developed groups of regions to change the structure of regional tariffs in order to stimulate consumers to price-dependent power consumption. Moreover, the algorithm for calculating tariffs for electricity transmission can be applied by the industrial Russia enterprises in price-dependent demand management of power consumption to choose an optimum tariff and reduce costs on power transmission.

To improve the electricity services in Nigeria, the government has embarked on a total reform of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. The reform started with rehabilitating the government-owned electricity infrastructures in 1999 and implementing the 2010 Power Sector Reform. While some stakeholders have seen these reforms benefit the industry, others have yet to see the positive impact of the reforms. Based on this premise, this work presents a synopsis of the Nigerian power sector's past, present, and future. A review of its state of the art is explored and presented using documents and recent literature on the Nigerian electricity sector. Findings from the study show that infrastructural deficits and administrative lapses dominated the pre-liberation era. The privatization of electricity led to organizational structure and infrastructure improvements. The sector was unbundled into the GenCos, TransCo, Discos, and the regulatory bodies assigned well-defined tasks. The generation capacity has increased to 16,384 MW against the pre-liberation figure of approximately 6000 MW. As against the approximate figure of 10,000 km covered by the transmission infrastructure, an additional 10,000 km has been added to the existing transmission facilities. Although there have been improvements in service deliveries, there are still more grounds to cover to stabilize the Nigerian electricity sector. It is proposed that stakeholders harmonize the various policies and structural changes to make the necessary improvements.

While automation helps to increase load-shifting, the combination of automation with time-of-use (TOU) or critical-peak prices (CPP) may lead to rebound peaks at the beginning of low-tariff periods which may exceed the original peak. Using a discrete choice experiment with a representative sample of 696 Swiss consumers, we find that a tariff menu including (i) a flat price with direct load control (DLC) and (ii) a time-of-use tariff without direct load control could avoid this problem. The majority (57%) of mostly younger customers, which could be interested in automation would likely sign up for a DLC with flat prices, while the remaining customers would either chose a TOU tariff with manual load control (28%) or avoid any form of load-shifting incentives (15%).

Manufacturing supply chains (SC) shift from traditional make-to-stock systems to make-to-order (MTO) systems in order to coordinate the production and distribution of complex and highly customized products. Despite the need for advanced scheduling approaches when coordinating such MTO-based SCs, there is little research focussing on practical settings that include variable processing speeds, sequence-dependent setup times (SDST) and time-of-use (TOU) electricity prices. However, these settings are important since they influence the energy consumption and the associated electricity costs have an impact on the decision-making process. Furthermore, there is also an increasing concern regarding green production in manufacturing such that the energy consumption cannot be ignored in decision making. In this study, we investigate a bi-objective energy-efficient permutation flow shop scheduling problem in MTO-based SC (EPFSPSC) with the conjoint objectives of minimising the cost of inventory, delivery, tardiness and electricity costs for production. In order to solve this problem, a genetic algorithm-based memetic algorithm is proposed and its effectiveness is demonstrated against a well-known benchmark approach. This research aims to assist production managers in making integrated production and distribution decisions, while simultaneously considering all associated costs and ensuring green manufacturing.