Energy Economics Policy Seminars
Friday, 09 October 2009, The Hague
On Friday 9 October 2009, the fourth seminar on Energy Economics Policy Issues will take place. This seminar series is organized by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB), the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ), the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) and TILEC - Tilburg University.
The aim of the Seminars is to create a discussion platform for Dutch energy economists, and to bridge the gap between policy makers and academics. It intends to improve the economic foundation of the Dutch and European energy policy, and ensure that economic research is better aligned with the specific needs of the energy debate.
Topic
The topic for the fourth seminar is
" Regulating investments in energy networks¿
There is a continuous demand for additional network infrastructure in the energy sector. In addition, replacement investments are needed to maintain the quality of the networks. However, there are concerns that the current type of tariff regulation might make investments too risky for network operators: regulatory periods are possibly too short while ex-post efficiency assessments results in too much risks for investors. Should the current regulatory scheme therefore be adjusted?
Several solutions have been suggested: Improve the commitment by the regulator (ex-ante assessments, longer regulatory periods), allow consumers to take up part of the investment risk (long term contracts), or exempt some investments from regulation (regulatory holidays). Which mechanism is preferred?
Speakers
We are glad to have two experts in the field to inform us about these issues:
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The first speaker is Ingo Vogelsang. He is full professor in economics at Boston University, and is specialized in the regulation of network industries and public utilities, focusing on general problems of institutional design and the functioning of incentive mechanisms. He has made major contributions to the understanding of the regulation experience in the energy and telecommunications industries.
Ingo will discuss appropriate regulatory mechanisms, in particular regarding tariff structures, for ensuring efficient investment in networks. He will concentrate on the energy sector, but will also refer to examples in other sectors.
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The second speaker, Stephen Littlechild , is emeritus professor at the University of Birmingham and fellow at University of Cambridge. He is an international consultant on regulation, competition and privatization, especially in the electricity and telecommunications sectors. He was the first UK director general of electricity supply and head of the Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER) from 1989-98. Since 1999 he has been a policy advisor to governments, the World Bank, regulators and companies in many countries as well as the UK.
Stephen will give his views on the appropriate regulatory mechanisms for ensuring efficient investment in general, and lessons from his research on the potential scope for participation of stakeholders.
Discussants
After both lectures, discussants will kickoff the discussion.
- Paul Nillesen will respond to the lecture of Ingo Vogelsang. He is director Economics of PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory
- Hans Grünfeld will discuss the lecture of Stephen Littlechild. He is director of VEMW, the Association for Industrial Users of Energy and Water.
Programme (PDF)
| Chair: Bert Willems, Tilburg Law and Economics Center - Tilburg University | |
| 10.30-11.00 | Registration and coffee |
Session 1: Investments and tariff structures |
|
| 11.00-11.10 | Introduction: What are the issues? Machiel Mulder (Energiekamer - NMa) Download Presentation |
| 11.10-11.55 | Presentation: Ingo Vogelsang (Boston University) Download Presentation |
| 11.55-12.15 | Discussant: Paul Nillesen (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Download Presentation |
| 12.15-12.45 | Open Discussions |
| 12.45-13.45 | Sandwich Lunch |
Session 2: Regulation, stakeholders and investments |
|
| 13.45-13.55 | Introduction: What are the issues? Gijsbert Zwart (Centraal Plan Bureau) Download Presentation |
| 13.55-14.40 | Presentation: Stephen Littlechild (Cambridge University) Download Presentation |
| 14.40-15.00 | Discussant: Hans Grünfeld (VEMW, Association for Energy, Environment and Water.) Download Presentation |
| 15.00-15.30 | Open Discussions |
| 15.30 | Closing |
Practical
Venue
Nederlandse Mededingingsautoriteit - NMa
Muzentoren - Room 4.20
Wijnhaven 24
Den Haag
Organizers
Machiel Mulder, NMa - Netherlands Competition Authority
Gijsbert Zwart, CPB - Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis
Bert Willems, TILEC - Tilburg University
Registration
Attendance to the conference is free, but unfortunately registration is closed.
Remark
To enable free discussions, the Chatham-House rule applies to this Seminar: "When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed".
TILEC¿s contribution to the conference has been facilitated by financial support of Essent.
For more information about TILEC's energy research check the website http://www.tilburguniversity.nl/tilec/energy/
See also
Date
09 October 2009
Start at 10.30 !
Location
NMa
Muzentoren - Room 4.20
Wijnhaven 24
Den Haag
Registration is closed.