Grid Centric vs Energy Centric and Unraveling Misconceptions Surrounding Electricity Wheeling
James Beatty is Chief Executive Officer at Enpower Trading
Summary
James Beatty discusses the transition from an energy-centric to a grid-centric focus in municipalities within the electricity industry. Historically, municipalities have relied on reselling electricity and deriving income from volume.
However, he advocates for a grid-centric approach where the emphasis is on increasing energy flow through the grid. This customer-centric model enables municipalities to operate as grid operators, offering flexibility and superior energy solutions to customers. Recognizing the grid as a valuable infrastructure asset, network owners or operators can generate revenue from it.
Through negotiating new tariffs, municipalities can optimally monetize their grids, fostering job creation, facilitating cleaner and more affordable energy, and preventing the issue of off-grid flight, such as in South Africa, where customers abandon the municipal network for self-generation due to poor energy supply and escalating costs.
The shift towards a grid-centric approach is crucial for preserving market position and maintaining revenues, ensuring the delivery of reliable and affordable power to customers.
Join the Future Cities Africa Newsletter
Ask how you can collaborate with Future Cities Africa
Share this discussion
You might also be interested in some of our other discussions
Overview of the New Tygerberg Hospital Development Project
Thorpe Koorts is Acting Project Officer for the Tygerberg Central Hospital PPP in the Department of Health and Wellness at the Western Cape Government.
Roadblocks Ahead and Potential Dangers of Extended Realities
Dale Deacon is a creative technologist with a focus on 3D, extended reality (XR), and Web3.
Buildings Must be Designed and Operated in Different Way :: Smart Buildings
Giles Pendleton is the Chief Development Officer at Attacq Limited and currently a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Green Building Council of South Africa.
The Role of Blockchain in Africa. Here to stay :: Blockchain
Steve Apps is a Smart City and Industry 4.0 technology expert. He’s past CTO of Huawei Southern Africa for government services. He was also executive for ecosystems and solutions at SqwidNet, rolling out the SIGFOX IoT network across South Africa.
De-densification and Implications on the Spatial Agenda :: Built Environment
Kayla Hanna Brown is Project Manager for Built Environment at South African Cities Network.
Enhancing Service Delivery: The Impact of Collaborator App Implemented by Mossel Bay Municipality
Dirk Kotzé is Executive Mayor of Mossel Bay Local Municipality
Towards Smarter Cities: Digitising Municipal Services for Enhanced Interaction and Efficiency
Philip De Bruin and Allen Yaxley are Managing Directors at Business Engineering.
Key Considerations for Using Heritage to Build Inclusive Communities
Maurietta Stewart is Head of Environmental & Heritage Management for District A+D (Table Bay and Tygerberg) at The City of Cape Town.
Future Vision for Africa Data Hub :: Open Cities Lab
Sarah Findlay is 'Africa Data Hub' Project Lead at Open Cities Lab.
Navigating Key Challenges in Policy Design and Valuation for Cities and Businesses
Yash Ramkolowan is Managing Director at DNA Economics