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Power System Economics: Designing Markets for Electricity
By Steven Stoft


 


Product Description:

The first systematic presentation of electricity market design-from the basics to the cutting edge. Unique in its breadth and depth. Using examples and focusing on fundamentals, it clarifies long misunderstood issues-such as why today's markets are inherently unstable. The book reveals for the first time how uncoordinated regulatory and engineering policies cause boom-bust investment swings and provides guidance and tools for fixing broken markets. It also takes a provocative look at the operation of pools and power exchanges.
* Part 1 introduces key economic, engineering and market design concepts.
* Part 2 links short-run reliability policies with long-run investment problems.
* Part 3 examines classic designs for day-ahead and real-time markets.
* Part 4 covers market power, and
* Part 5 covers locational pricing, transmission right and pricing losses.
The non-technical introductions to all chapters allow easy access to the most difficult topics. Steering an independent course between ideological extremes, it provides background material for engineers, economists, regulators and lawyers alike. With nearly 250 figures, tables, side bars, and concisely-stated results and fallacies, the 44 chapters cover such essential topics as auctions, fixed-cost recovery from marginal cost, pricing fallacies, real and reactive power flows, Cournot competition, installed capacity markets, HHIs, the Lerner index and price caps.

About the Author
Steven Stoft has a Ph.D. in economics (U.C. Berkeley) as well as a background in physics, math, engineering, and astronomy. He spent a year inside FERC and now consults for PJM, California and private generators. Learn more at www.stoft.com.



Summary: Lacks of good examples
Rating: 2

This book really disappointed me. It does not provide in-depth explanation s on concepts nor good examples.



Summary: A disappointing book for economists...
Rating: 1

... or those wishing to see what economists really have to offer regarding power systems. Stoft's technical discussion of power markets, or locational pricing, mechanisms is just fine. But he offers nothing about the economics of electricity transmission, without which spatially diverse power markets are merely a theory. As such, his book is of no particular use to those looking to understand the economic issues that bedevil large power markets, like those in the US, where persistent transmission constraints can impair the functioning of the best "market architecture."
"Economics" is a loosely-used term in electricity market circles. Those wishing to understand the economic princiles behind power markets, as opposed to the mechanics of power systems, will have to look elsewhere.



Summary: Economics, not engineering for a change
Rating: 5

This book is about good economics. It is not about the usual collection of market anecdotes, nor is it about engineering power systems. Power System Economics reviews all the key design elements of modern electricity wholesale markets, and puts them in their economic context. You will not find another book on the subject that is as comprehensive and well-researched.



Summary: Good introduction to electric power economics, engineering
Rating: 4

Stoft has provided an excellent introduction to the new world of electric power, providing a helpful guide that speaks to the engineering and the economics.



Summary: Solid coherent text
Rating: 5

Stoft's book provides a coherent and logical framework for understanding power system economics. It discusses the key controversies (or "fallacies") in power markets in a clear and easily-understandable way. There is a lot of confusion on these topics these days, not only in the press, but in a lot of the literature. Lots of commentators have vested interests, which colours their analysis and comment. Stoft's book helps bring the debates back to first principles. A textbook like this can never anticipate every question or issue that arises in every power market in the world, but the book provides a good framework for understanding the fundamentals, which the reader can then apply and extend to issues of his/her own interest. A good read.