Impact of market restructuring on power systems operation

What effect will competitive pricing have on control center applications, information technology requirements, and transaction analysis? The move toward market-based pricing places significant new requirements on the utility's technological infrastructure. Information systems and control center applications and procedures are all affected, albeit to varying degrees. A few examples of affected functions are bidding procedures, ancillary services, and financial hedging contracts. This article has outlined some of the changes that may be coming to the Electricity Supply Industry in the United States as it moves to one which makes more use of marginal pricing concepts. In many respects, the major changes are changes in mind set and procedures. Many of the control and analysis tools will remain the same.>