In an electricity market cleared by merit-order economic dispatch we identify necessary and sufficient conditions under which the market outcomes supported by pure strategy Nash equilibria (NE) exist when generating companies (Gencos) game through continuously variable incremental cost (IC) block offers. A Genco may own any number of units, each unit having multiple blocks with each block being offered at a constant IC. / Next, a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) scheme devoid of approximations or iterations is developed to identify all possible NE. The MILP scheme is systematic and general but computationally demanding for large systems. Thus, an alternative significantly faster lambda-iterative approach that does not require the use of MILP was also developed. / Once all NE are found, one critical question is to identify the one whose corresponding gaming strategy may be considered by all Gencos as being the most rational. To answer this, this thesis proposes the use of a measure based on the potential profit gain and loss by each Genco for each NE. The most rational offer strategy for each Genco in terms of gaming or not gaming that best meets their risk/benefit expectations is the one corresponding to the NE with the largest gain to loss ratio. / The computation of all NE is tested on several systems of up to ninety generating units, each with four incremental cost blocks. These NE are then used to examine how market power is influenced by market parameters, specifically, the number of competing Gencos, their size and true ICs, as well as the level of demand and price cap.

Demand side management (DSM) interventions aim to influence the way electricity is used by customers through specific actions and programmes. A desired load shape is achieved by encouraging electricity users to consume more electricity at times when excess capacity is available and less during times of constraints. In South Africa, load management is a fixed response between 18:00 and 20:00 and includes load shifting and load curtailment out of the Time of Use (TOU) tariff peak period. Demand Market Participation (DMP), on the other hand, is a more flexible curtailment initiative and is scheduled day ahead only if constraints are expected. This study evaluates the effectiveness of load management and DMP initiatives and proposes an optimised approach. Customer responses to the TOU tariff and the alignment of system and tariff peaks were investigated by making use of TOU metering and system sent out data. The research shows that not all customers respond to the TOU tariff signal. System peaks and TOU tariff peaks are aligned however a number of system peaks occur out of the tariff peak periods. The research further shows that load management and DMP initiatives shift and curtail load effectively. Load management initiatives with an energy efficient component are very effective and highlight the importance of energy efficiency as a whole. Historical system sent out data was analysed and the results show that a significant number of load management initiatives can become more dynamic. It was further evident that curtailment initiatives contribute more to the system than load shifting initiatives. Load management initiatives are initiated by TOU tariff peaks and not system peaks. Load management initiatives could therefore be optimised if system constraints are used as a reference and not TOU periods. It was also evident that load shifting initiatives do not add much value during the low-demand seasons. The results of this study could be utilised to improve DSM initiatives. This study also serves to influence future DSM strategies which will embrace a sustainable DSM programme. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Originally presented as the author's Thesis (doctoral)--Fernuniversität Hagen, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 556-604).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1986. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 91-92).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-99).

Thesis (MTech (Industrial Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / Demand Side Management (DSM) within a South African context requires a transdisciplinary approach to comprehend electricity consumption. Current research suggests a technical determinism, whereby design teams fail to acknowledged social factors and cultural influences when conceptualising DSM artefacts. The result of which, is that artefacts fail to be adopted by the market, and consumer behaviour and electricity consumption remains unchanged. The thesis aims to demonstrate the hypothesis, that semiotics and ethnology may affect sustainable residential electricity management in South Africa. The ubiquitous literature on electricity management is administered by means of the theoretical lens, Sociotechnical Theory. Mixed method instrument obtain fieldwork data from three of the eleven official South African languages: Afrikaans, English and IsiXhosa.

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