Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2006 / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, December 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-74).

Thesis (M.S.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1987. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2706. Typescript. Abstract precedes thesis as [2] preliminary leaves. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-56).

No description available.

This thesis estimates the cost of electricity outages in Zimbabwe for the year 2009. Much reference is made to government, the power utility - Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and other countries in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), also experiencing electricity outages. An electricity outage is a complete loss of power supply to an area. An outage may result from planned or unplanned load shedding or faults. Load shedding is accelerated by power supply shortages. The shortages are experienced during peak demand times. In 2009, Zimbabwe’s peak demand was about 1574MW. ZESA had the capacity to supply 1080MW and imported 100MW (guaranteed from Mozambique), leaving a shortfall of 394MW. This shortfall is worsened by transmission losses (about 108MW) and consumption by ZESA properties (about 200MW) bringng down the supply to customers of about 700MW. The supply shortage is the result of a lack of investment in the power sector by government for expanded generation capacity, incorrect pricing, droughts, internal conflicts, skills flight, government energy sector regulation, vandalism of equipment and under supply of coal to thermal power stations. Consumers in all sectors are experiencing power outage incidences of different duration. The severity of the inconvenience depends on the load shedding time table, preferences of the power utility and arrangements that can be made with the utility. Power outages negatively affect (and result in cost to) the productive sectors (industry, mining and farming) and households. The main objective of the thesis is to estimate the cost of power outages to the sectors. Sub-objectives of the study include: to identify the main features of power crisis in Zimbabwe and government response to it with a regional power generated setting; to formulate a model that clearly identifies the different cost components of power outages in Zimbabwe; to identify appropriate methods by which to estimate these cost components; to estimate the cost of power outages to the productive sectors (mining, agriculture and industrial) and households of Zimbabwe; to critically analyse the credibility of these estimates, and to consider the saving of the costs of outages achieved through increased investment in generating capacity in Zimbabwe. ZESA undertook reforms (institutional and tariff) in order to improve management efficiencies and supply. It was divided into five entities resulting in management and financial improvement, but its reform of tariffs has been stiffled by subsidies and price regulations. ZESA adopted the cost plus rate of return pricing strategy in 2004 but regulation kept the tariff below cost. The regulation is pro-poor in aim but it encourages wasteful consumption. Similar supply shortages are affecting the whole SAPP group. The power pool load shed 758MW in 2009. In Zimbabwe alone load shedding was 315MW. In an attempt to solve the problem, member utilities engage in bilateral contacts and short-term trading through Short Term Energy Markets (STEM). A number of Southern African countries have to load shed - the average frequency being three to five (3-5) times per week for the region. A number of studies have been carried out by different scholars attempting to assess the impact and cost of outages. The general conclusion is that power outages cause significant costs to consumers, both direct and indirect. From a global perspective, the increase in the quality of electricity supplied has fallen behind the increase in quantity demanded, causing an increase of incidence in power outages. An analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa shows that the causes of supply shortages are natural (drought), oil price shocks, conflict and the lack of investment in generation capacity. This generates two outage cost estimates – a direct cost (welfare loss) and indirect cost (backup cost). The sum of these estimates is the total outage cost. The direct cost estimate is based on direct loss incurred during the power outages - lost production, lost materials, and lost time or leisure. In order to derive an estimated direct cost, it is necessary to obtain an accurate respondent self-assessment, which, in turn depends on the keeping of good records of hours of outages and losses incurred during outage times. The estimated indirect cost (backup cost) is derived from the cost of investment in backup sources and running of these sources as a mitigating measure during a power outage. The expected gain from self-generated kWh is assumed to be equal to the expected loss from the marginal kWh electricity not supplied by the utility (the outage). The annualised capital cost of backup source plus the variable cost of generating electricity by the backup source are another element of the cost of power outages. The prices of backup sources were obtained from the two leading retailers, Tendo Power and Ellis Electronics. To the extent that the captive generation includes investment in emergency or optional plant (as part of normal production infrastructure), it may overestimate cost.

Our society has become heavily dependent on inputs of energy. Recently, however, concern has been expressed that the future supply of energy will be inadequate to meet our demands. It seems that future supplies of energy will be available only at relatively high cost. Moreover, conscious public policy attempts to reduce consumption may be attempted by raising the price of energy. A problem arises in the equitable distribution of our energy resources. To understand the equity issue and the price elasticity of demand question, a study was undertaken of the patterns of electricity consumption among residential consumers in Vancouver. The hypotheses proposed are that the proportion of income devoted to electricity consumption declines as income increases; the demand for electricity is price elastic; and, the ability to reduce electricity consumption increases with income. The methodology used to study these questions involved two steps. Firstly, a questionnaire was administered to 291 Vancouver households to identify variables potentially significant in determining, residential electricity consumption. Questions were also asked to determine perceptions of the ability or willingness to reduce or increase electricity consumption patterns under various hypothetical price intervention policies. Secondly, electricity consumption histories were obtained from B.C. Hydro and Power Authority for these 291 respondents. The study shows that absolute electricity consumption is not significantly affected by income. Hence, the proportion of income devoted to electricity declines as income increases. Secondly, it was found that the demand for electricity is sensitive to price increases, but not to price decreases. Thirdly, low income consumers are less responsive to price increases in electricity. They are less willing/able to switch from electricity to natural gas as a fuel source, and are less willing/ able to reduce electricity consumption levels when the price is increased. The results indicate that across the board price increases in electricity will bear very heavily on the poor. Various price schemes were examined with respect to their implications for equity, allocative efficiency and environmental quality. The preferred scheme sets allocative efficiency and environmental quality as constraints. Included in the package is a redistribution of income to achieve equity. The second best alternatives are pricing based on income and increasing block pricing. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

M.Comm.

No description available.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Management Studies / Master / Master of Business Administration