Managing Power Sector Reform and Regulation

Learn best practice for economic regulation

The Managing Power Sector Reform and Regulation in Africa course at the UCT GSB gives managers and leaders working in this critical sector the ability to contribute to the reform of the power sector and deliver sustainable, affordable services to everyone – while still accelerating economic growth. The course is focused on Africa's needs and exposes participants to international best practice in managing reform and the new regulatory environment.

This one-week course is offered by Managing Infrastructure Investment Reform and Regulation in Africa (MIRA), a leading centre of excellence at the UCT GSB, and is run in partnership with the African Forum of Utility Regulators and the Regional Electricity Regulators Association.

Manage power systems effectively

Leaders, managers and professionals in infrastructure sectors around the world are facing new and complex challenges. The old model of state-owned, vertically integrated utilities is giving way to hybrid models with increased private sector participation and competition. New regulatory regimes are being put in place and reformed utilities need to deliver expanded and affordable services for the poor, while underpinning and supporting economic growth.

This specialised short course explores new research on the utility of the future, offers a thorough grounding in the fundamentals and practice of economic regulation and seeks new models to manage power systems effectively.

What will I Gain from this Course?

Delegates on this course will gain an understanding of:

• Challenges in improving the performance of the power sector in Africa
• Global and African developments in power sector reform
• Economic and technical regulation of monopoly components of the sector
• Accelerating investment in competitive elements of the sector – IPPs
• Preparing for the future with the growth of variable RE and distributed resources
• A number of case studies from Africa will be presented.

What does the Coerse Focus on?

Reform

• African challenges and trends in power sector performance, reform and regulation
• Power market models
• International history of power sector reform
• Power systems of the future: Implications of variable renewable and distributed energy

Economic regulation fundamentals

• The rationale for regulation
• Regulatory objectives
• Economic vs financial sustainability
• Overview of regulatory methodologies
• Regulatory Methods: Traditional cost-of-service regulation, asset valuation, WACC

Tariffs

• Regulating quality of electricity supply: an example of incentive-based regulation
• A hybrid approach: Example of multi-year tariff determination
• Designing efficient tariff structures and cross-subsidisation for the poor
• Transmission access and pricing

Investment

• Success factors in attracting private investment in IPPs
• Integrated Resource Planning (IRP)
• Renewable energy auctions

Improving access: grid and beyond

• New regulatory challenges in distributed and behind-the-meter generation
• Regulation for improved energy access
• Business models and regulatory challenges