Purc Electricity Rate Setting Guidelines
Purc Electricity Rate Setting Guidelines
Purc Electricity Rate Setting Guidelines
GHANA
GUIDELINES
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Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC)
Tariff Guidelines Page 1
DECEMBER, 1999
1. INTRODUCTION
These guidelines, issued by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) in pursuance of the
PURC Act, 1997, Act 538 (sections 3a and 16) shall apply to electricity rate-setting in Ghana.
2. BACKGROUND
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) was established under the PURC Act, 1997, Act
538 to, among other functions, provide guidelines on rates chargeable for provision of utility services
(Reference Section 3 (a) of the Act 538).
Sections 16(3 a-d), 17, and 20 of the Act 538 also requires the Public Utilities Regulatory
Commission, in preparing the guidelines, to take into account the following:
To satisfy the above requirements, the following considerations would be taken into account:
(i) fair apportionment of total cost of supply to various classes of consumers and
provision of a certain minimum level of service (lifeline supply) at an affordable price
to residential customers who may not be able to pay the full cost;
(ii) appropriate Rate of Return on investments to satisfy the interests of investors in the
National Interconnected System;
(iii) setting of Bulk Supply Tariff (BST) to ensure that distribution utilities procure, at least
cost from wholesale power suppliers, electricity for distribution and retail to regulated
customers;
(iv) setting of Transmission Service Charge to ensure economically efficient, reliable and
secure operation of the Transmission System by the Electricity Transmission Utility;
(v) setting of Distribution Service Charge to ensure economically efficient, reliable and
secure operation of the Distribution System by distribution utilities;
(vi) provision of adequate revenue to ensure financial viability of the power utilities;
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(vii) allowance for Special Rates for priority consumers whose activities may enhance
economic development;
(viii) allowance for a tariff structure which incorporates uniform rates for all customers within
particular category of consumers regardless of geographic location.
Section four: provides the key elements of electricity rate making methodology. It contains the
general guiding principles used as the basis for rate-setting.
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3 DEFINITIONS
3.1 Bulk Generation Charge (BGC): are charges paid to the distribution utilities to cover the
costs of procuring electricity from wholesale power suppliers and from the Spot Market,
exclusive of the costs for associated transmission services, as developed in Section 4.1 of the
Guidelines.
3.2 Bulk Supply Point (BSP): high voltage electrical sub-stations in the National Interconnection
System that are used by wholesale power suppliers for electricity injections into and/or
extraction from the transmission system.
3.3 Bulk Supply Tariff (BST): Is the price of the electricity at the Bulk Supply Point. It shall
recover the capacity and energy charges of generation and transmission service charges, as
developed in Section 4.3 of the Guidelines.
3.4 Distribution Service Charge (DSC): are charges paid to the distribution utilities to cover their
costs of providing services to regulated customers. The DSC is established based on the
Distribution Added Value (DAV) computed for distribution utilities, as developed in Section 4.3
of the Guidelines.
3.5 Distribution System: the distribution network in a designated area or zone, consisting of low
to medium voltage electrical circuits, sub-stations, transformers and auxiliary facilities that link
the Bulk Supply Points to meters on the premises of regulated customers, through which the
distribution utilities distribute and retail electricity.
3.6 Distribution Utility: power utilities (licensed to operate under Section 26 of Act 541) whose
activities involve primarily the daily operation and maintenance of the distribution system and
the provision of other ancillary services required to retail electricity to regulated consumers.
3.8 Electricity Transmission Utility (ETU): the power utility (licensed under Section 24 of Act
541 to be the sole operator of the transmission system) that provides transmission services
without discrimination to wholesale power suppliers in the National Interconnected System.
3.9. Embedded Generation Facility: A power generation facility that is electrically connected (at
low to medium voltage) directly to a sub-station within a particular distribution system.
Provided the total output of such generation facility can be distributed and retailed locally by
the distribution utility without any requirement for the use of the high voltage transmission
system of the NIS.
3.10 Generation: The process of producing electrical power (kilowatts or kW) and energy (kilo-
watt hours or kWh) through conversion of other primary forms of energy.
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3.11 Non-Residential Customers: are regulated customers who use electricity for commercial
and non-domestic activities, maintain a consumption level equal to or less than 100 kilovolt
Ampere at a service voltage of 415 Volts and/or 240 Volts.
3.12 National Interconnected System (NIS): the system consisting of high voltage electrical
circuits, sub-stations and generation facilities within the geographical boundary of Ghana as
defined pursuant to Section 23 of Act 541. The NIS is operated exclusively by the Electricity
Transmission Utility.
3.13 Non-Served Energy Cost: The cost of non-served energy shall be equal to the Spot Market
price of electricity.
3.14 Power Sale and Purchase Contracts: bilateral contracts established between distribution
utilities and wholesale power suppliers for the purchase of electrical power and energy.
3.15 Replacement Value of Fixed Assets: Represents the estimated cost of replacing the works
and physical assets used to provide the services of similar quality and reliability as achieved
with the existing technology at current prices. Costs are estimated taking into account (a) the
financial expenses incurred during construction, assuming an interest rate which shall not
exceed the Discount Rate established by the PURC, (b) expenses and compensations for the
establishment of rights of way, and other relevant expenses.
3.16 Residential Customers: are customers who use electricity for non-commercial uses,
maintain a consumption level equal to or less than 100 kilovolt Ampere at a nominal service
voltage of 415 Volts for 3 phase and/or 240 Volts for single phase.
3.17 SLT-LV Customers: are consumers who are either supplied at a voltage level of 415 Volts
and have maximum demand above 100 kilo Volt Ampere or are supplied at 415 Volts but
have consumption less than 100 kilo Volt Ampere.
3.18 SLT-MV Customers: are consumers who are supplied at a voltage level exceeding 415 Volts
but less than 11 kilo Volts and have maximum demand above 100 kilo Volts Ampere.
3.19 SLT-HV Customers: are consumers who are supplied at a voltage level of 33 kilo Volts and
have maximum demand of equal to or above 100 kilo Volt Ampere.
3.20 Spot Market: power supply transactions to settle: (i) the differences between the contractual
obligations of wholesale power suppliers to distribution utilities and/or other customers and the
hour-by-hour amounts of power and energy produced on the basis of economic merit order
dispatch of generation facilities in the National Interconnected System, and (ii) the differences
between the hour by hour and contractual consumption of distributors and/or other customers.
3.21 Thermal Complementation: electricity supplied into the National Interconnected System from
thermal power generation sources to complement available supply from the Akosombo and
Kpong hydroelectric power plants.
3.22 Transmission System: Transmission system is defined as those high voltage circuits that
transfer (transmit) electrical power and energy from the generating stations through a network
of lines, switching stations, and sub-stations for delivery to bulk supply points for delivery to
distribution utilities and/or bulk customers.
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3.23 Transmission Service Charge (TSC): are charges paid to the Electricity Transmission Utility
for the provision of transmission services without discrimination of wholesale power suppliers
in the NIS, as developed in Section 4.2 of the Guidelines.
3.24 Transmission Ancillary Services: are services carried out by the transmission system
operator to support the transmission of energy from sources to loads while maintaining
reliable operation of the transmission system, in accordance with established guidelines.
These services include regulation and frequency response, operating reserves (spinning and
supplemental reserves), reactive power, black starts etc.
3.25 Volta River Authority (VRA): The statutory wholesale power supplier for electricity that is
produced from the Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric power plants.
3.26 Wholesale Power Suppliers: power utilities (licensed to operate under Section 25 of Act
541) whose principal activities involve the operation and maintenance of power generation
facilities in the National Interconnected System and the supply of electrical power and energy
under contract with distribution utilities and/or bulk customers.
3.27 Wholesale Power Supply Market: all power supply transactions to meet the total demand for
electricity in the NIS which involve the procurement of electricity by distribution utilities and/or
bulk customers from wholesale power suppliers and/or directly from the Spot Market.
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The PURC shall also regulate the charges through which distribution utilities pass on to regulated
customers the costs of services rendered for electricity distribution and retail sales. 1
In line with Regulations under Act 541, the Electricity Transmission Utility, in its capacity as the
Market Administrator and System Operator (MA&SO) coordinates the hour-to-hour supply of
electricity in the National Interconnected System (NIS) and dispatch all generation facilities on the
basis of economic merit order. Distribution utilities procure electricity from wholesale power suppliers
at Bulk Supply Points (BSP) on the NIS for distribution and retail to regulated customers2 within the
distribution system.
Distribution utilities shall procure all their power requirements under contracts from the Wholesale
Market on the basis of the following arrangements:
1. Power Sale and Purchase Contract with the Volta River Authority (VRA) for the
procurement of firm capacity and associated energy to be supplied from the
hydroelectric power generation facilities located at Akosombo and Kpong.
2. Power Sale and Purchase Contracts with other wholesale power suppliers for the
supply of firm capacity and associated energy to be supplied from other power
generation plants that are part of the National Interconnected System.
1
These Guidelines do not cover the regulation of services provided by wholesale power suppliers to other customers who
are directly connected to the Bulk Supply Points.
2
Regulated customers, as currently defined by the Energy Commission, are those customers whose annual consumption is
less than 50GWh.
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3. In the event that a wholesale supplier is unable to meet his contractual obligation with
a distribution utility, the deficit/difference shall be procured from the Spot Market. In
effect purchases of capacity and energy from the Spot Market is created by
transactions between wholesale power suppliers to settle the difference between the
actual hour-to-hour demand for capacity and energy in the NIS and the demand
covered by Power Sale and Purchase Contracts.
Pricing of electricity from Wholesale Power Suppliers shall take into account the following periods in
the evolution of the on-going reform in the power sector:
- Transition period
- Post transition period
The transition period refers to the period from 2000 up to 2002. The following pricing methodology
shall apply during the transition period:
1. The PURC shall approve annually the purchase price(s) for the supply by VRA of firm
capacity and associated energy from the hydroelectric facilities at Akosombo and
Kpong. To that end, the PURC shall take into account VRAs annual financial rate of
return requirements for, and also the operation and maintenance costs of those
hydroelectric facilities.
2. Prior to concluding any Power Sale and Purchase Contracts with other wholesale
power suppliers, distribution utilities shall secure PURC approval for the methodology
to be applied to set specific charges to recover the costs of the firm capacity and
associated energy to be purchased.
The capacity charge shall be set at a level to cover the investment annuity and fixed
operating and maintenance costs of developing a PURC designated peaking plant in
the NIS.
The energy charges shall be equal to the levelised value of the expected Short-Run
Marginal Cost (SRMC) of supplying the energy required to meet the projected load in
the NIS. The basis for establishing the levelised energy charge shall be a one-year
forward simulation of economic merit order dispatch of all generating facilities in the
NIS.3 The results achieved from the one-year forward simulation shall be reviewed in
June and December of each year to take into account any changes in electricity
supply, demand projections and fuel costs that are made at the beginning of the year.
3
In addition to existing generation facilities, the projected energy supply from imports and/or new generation facilities to
be commissioned before the year 2002 shall be included in the forward simulation, in line with the Governments
Transitional Plan for Wholesale Supply.
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In order to meet increase in demand for firm capacity and associated energy by their customers,
distribution utilities shall apply a PURC endorsed competitive bidding process to establish long-term
Power Sale and Purchase Contracts with prospective wholesale power suppliers.
The PURC approved capacity charge for the Spot Market shall apply uniformly for all contracts, and
the applicable energy charge shall be set equal to the purchase price for energy that is realized from
the most competitive bids submitted to distribution utilities.
Distribution utilities shall meet all the requirements of their customers through Power Purchase and
Supply Contracts. In the event that they are unable to be supplied all their contract requirements by
any wholesale supplier the difference/deficit shall be supplied from the Spot Market. In such events,
the distribution utility is allowed to pass on to its customers the price approved by the PURC. The
distribution utility, on the other hand, shall pay prices prevailing on the Spot Market.
In accordance with regulations for the Wholesale Power Supply Market, the MA&SO shall determine
the hour-by- hour costs of supplying capacity and energy from the Spot Market.
For the purpose of computing the BGC, a two-component tariff shall represent the price of capacity
and energy that distribution utilities purchase from the Spot Market, as follows:
1. a capacity charge that shall be set at a value equal to the investment annuity based on
PURC approved discount rate plus the fixed operating and maintenance costs of
developing a Single Cycle Gas Turbine for peaking capacity required in the NIS plus
transmission toll.
2. an energy charge derived from the expected short-run marginal costs of supplying
energy in the NIS, based on a 12-month forward simulation of economic merit order
dispatch of all generation facilities in the NIS. Each year, the MA&SO shall compute
for the PURC a levelised energy charge that shall apply for electricity purchases from
the Spot Market. The levelised energy charge shall be adjusted in June and December
each year, taking into account annual hydrology of the reservoir for VRAs
hydroelectricity facility at Akosombo.
4.1.5 Purchase price for Electricity supply from Embedded Power Generation Facilities
Distribution utilities shall enter into long-term Power Sale and Purchase Contracts with wholesale
power suppliers for the supply from Embedded Power Generation Facilities of electrical power and
energy for local distribution and retail within a particular distribution system.
The PURC shall approve a specific BST for electricity supply from such Embedded Power Generation
Facilities. The PURC shall require that the level of such specific BST shall not exceed the avoided
costs of procuring electricity directly from the Spot Market.
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The Bulk Supply Tariff (BST) represents a PURC approved maximum charge for the procurement of
capacity and energy at each BSP that distribution utilities shall be allowed to recover from customers
through End-User Tariffs.
The PURC shall derive the Bulk Supply Tariff (BST) as the weighted-average of the purchase prices
of capacity and energy that is procured by distribution utilities at the Bulk Supply Points. The Bulk
Supply Tariff shall be derived as the sum of the capacity and energy purchases from the wholesale
market plus transmission charges as set out in Section 3.1 of the Guidelines.
5.1 The Electricity Transmission Utility (ETU) shall provide transmission services without
discrimination to all Wholesale Power Suppliers. A Transmission Service Charge (TSC) shall be paid
to the Transmission Utility Company to cover the Total Transmission Cost (TTC). Total Transmission
Cost shall be determined based on the annuity of investment and standard costs of operating and
maintaining transmission system.
1. The Transmission Toll, which shall be computed to recover the difference between the
TTC and the Spot Market Income. The Transmission Toll shall be a charge per kW of
peak demand in the NIS.
2. The Spot Market Income shall correspond to the sum of payments received by the
ETU from all participants in the wholesale power suppliers based on Spot Market
transactions involving the hour-by-hour transfer of energy and capacity between Bulk
Supply Points.
Capital cost of transmission shall be calculated as the annuity of Replacement Value of Fixed Assets
in service. The capital recovery factor used in the calculation of the annuity shall be based on useful
life of 30 years and a discount rate determined by the PURC in consultation with the Transmission
Utility.
The Replacement Value shall be based on the actual market prices prevailing at the tariff review
period.
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Ancillary services costs include costs associated with frequency response, reserves, reactive power
and black starts. The level of these costs will be determined by the PURC in consultation with the
transmission utility company.
During the Tariff Review Period (see section 4.7), the Base TSC as determined above shall be
adjusted annually taking into account the following factors:
Productivity Factor (G) shall take into account cost containment requirements in factors used directly
in operations (e.g. labour, materials, transport etc).
Distribution utilities shall serve distribution zones which shall have a two tier structure as follows:
2. Self Help Electrification Areas (Low Density Areas) which distribution utilities shall
provide services under operation and maintenance contract with the Government of
Ghana.
In addition to the Bulk Supply Tariff, the distribution utility shall charge a Distribution Service Charge
for its services. The DSC shall be applicable to all customers of the distribution utility.
The Distribution Service Charge (DSC) shall recover all expenses of the distribution utility in the
commercial electrification areas and the operation and maintenance costs in the Self Help
Electrification Areas. It shall be recovered as an energy-related charge for residential and non-
residential customers and both capacity and energy charges from industrial customers.
The DSC shall consist of the following major components: (i) standard distribution losses of power
and energy (expansion factors) (ii) standard investment, maintenance and operation costs (DAV) and
(iii) costs associated with the user (Monthly Fixed Charge), independent from his demand for power
and energy.
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The losses shall be regulated to reflect agreed performance benchmarks. Allowed losses for the
distribution utilities shall include technical losses and non-technical losses. The value of these losses
shall be determined by the PURC after consultation with the distribution utility companies from time to
time.
The standard capital cost of distribution shall be calculated as the annuity of the Replacement Value
of Fixed Assets of the distribution companies. The annuity shall be calculated using a capital recovery
factor based on a useful life (35 years) and discount rate determined by the PURC in consultation
with the utility companies.
The Replacement Value of Fixed Assets shall be based on the actual market prices prevailing at the
time of tariff review.
The major components of the O&M costs are related to labour costs, transport costs, material costs
and administrative costs.
These cost elements shall be determined on the basis of key performance-related benchmarks in
order to enhance efficiency in the provision of distribution services. The level of these performance
benchmarks shall be determined by the PURC after consultation with the distribution utility
companies.
The fixed user service cost represents the cost of billing, processing, etc and shall be recovered from
monthly service charges imposed on all consumers who are not on pre-paid metering.
The level of the user cost shall be based on a benchmark that shall be related to the number of
customers to be served by the utility among others. The level of the standard user cost benchmark
shall be determined by the PURC after consultation with the distribution utility companies.
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During the Tariff Review Period (see section 5.6), the Base DSC as determined above shall be
adjusted annually taking into account the following factors:
Productivity Factor (G) shall take into account cost containment requirements in factors used directly
in operations (e.g. labour, materials, transport etc).
Quality of Service Performance Indicators shall include factors such as Consumer Satisfaction,
reliability of supply etc.
The End-Users serviced by distribution utilities are classified as (i) Residential, (ii) Non-Residential,
(iii) SLT- LV, (iv) SLT-MV and (v) SLT-HV. The residential, non-residential and SLT LV customers
are supplied electricity at nominal voltage levels of 415/230 V and shall be classified as Low Voltage
(LV) customers for the purposes of cost allocation. SLT-MV and SLT-HV customers shall be
classified as Medium Voltage (MV) customers.
The total expenses of a distribution utility company (Distribution Added Value) shall be allocated to
the classes of customers (LT and MT) on the basis of the actual costs incurred by the distribution
companies in providing the services. The PURC shall determine the appropriate distribution cost
allocation factors in respect of LV and MV customers in the calculation of the Distribution Service
Charge for various end-use customers.
In order to establish the Value of Fixed Assets, the utility company shall submit supporting data which
will be subjected to a full audit. The PURC may reject the inclusion of unnecessary assets, with
reason
Every five years, the PURC shall update the new value of Fixed Assets of the transmission and
distribution facilities on information submitted by the utility companies. In case of new works or
withdrawals, the PURC shall increase or reduce the corresponding Value of Fixed Assets.
The Discount Rate to be used for setting tariffs shall be determined by the PURC at least once in
every two years, in real terms, for tariff review purposes.
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The Discount Rate can only be revised when the factors that influence its determination have
suffered significant alterations that would justify its modification. The PURC at its own initiative or at
the request of the utility company can commission the execution of studies for the revision of the rate.
The PURC shall review performance benchmarks and other weighting factors relevant for rate setting
at least once in every four years.
The PURC will periodically prepare information on the procedures used to establish rates, and
historical and expected values. The reports shall be made available to the public
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Residential customers shall pay electricity tariff on the basis of energy (kWh) and shall be grouped
into three classes on the basis of the level of consumption determined by the PURC in consultation
with the Distribution Utility from time to time.
The lifeline philosophy contends that electricity is an essential service rather than a luxury and
people of low income should not be deprived of it because they cannot afford to pay the full cost of
supply.
The affordability concern shall be addressed through the institution of a lifeline supply level and tariff
that shall ensure that a certain quantity of electricity is provided at a low rate, such that low-income
customers can afford to meet basic needs.
- The lifeline consumption level shall be set by the PURC from time to time.
- The rate for the lifeline consumption shall be related to the following factors as
appropriate:
- The lifeline supply shall be incorporated into the rate structure as to be determined by
the PURC.
Non-Residential customers shall pay electricity tariff on the basis of energy (kWh) and shall be
grouped into two classes on the basis of the level of consumption to be determined by the PURC in
consultation with the Distribution Utility from time to time.
End-user tariff for customers in this category will incorporate (i) Monthly Demand Charge
denominated in Cedis/kVA/month, (ii) an energy charge denominated in Cedis/kWh and (iii) fixed
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End-user tariff for customers in this category will incorporate (i) Monthly Demand Charge
denominated in Cedis/kVA/month (ii) and energy charge denominated in Cedis/kWh and (iii) fixed
Monthly Service Charge denominated in Cedis/Month.
End-user tariff for customers in this category will incorporate (i) Monthly Demand Charge
denominated in Cedis/kVA/month, (ii) energy charge denominated in Cedis/kWh and (iii) fixed
Monthly Service Charge denominated in Cedis/Month.
The PURC shall revise the tariff structure when necessary, after consultations with the utility
companies. In line with sub-section 18(3) of the PURC Act 538, distribution utilities may with the
written permission of the PURC demand and receive from any customer Special Rates agreed to by
the utility and the customer.
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Interim structure for end-user tariffs for customer categories shall be as follows:
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Electricity rates shall be set at least once in every four years to be effective from the month of
January billing cycle. Electric utilities shall file tariff notification by September 30 for tariffs to be
effective from the month of January billing cycle of every year. In general, all tariff notifications to the
PURC shall be filed at least 60 days from its effective date.
The PURC upon receipt of the necessary documentation shall review it and notify the utility company
of its comments, if any. The utility company after receiving the comments shall respond to them
within a maximum period of fourteen (14) calendar days.
If the filling of the utility is rejected, it shall re-file within a maximum period of fourteen (14) calendar
days for consideration by the PURC
When the PURC accepts the filling of the utility company, it shall organise public hearings to give
the opportunity to other stakeholders to comment on the proposals. Prior to the public hearing, the
utility company shall publish its tariff proposal in the print media. The publication of the proposed
rates should be done at least 14 days before the public hearings.
Following the public hearings, the PURC shall investigate the rate proposals submitted by the
Utilities. The investigations shall be conducted by staff of the PURC and other experts or
representatives of stakeholders.
The PURC shall cause its decision to be published in the gazette and the print media.
7.7 Petitions
Interested parties may file petitions requesting reconsideration of the resolutions of the PURC within
ten calendar days following their date of publication.
The petition shall be resolved within ten calendar days from its filing, after which all administrative
remedies are exhausted.
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Pre-filing
Notification
Utility files
rates to be
effective in 60
days
PURC
Preliminary
Review
Re-file
Public
Hearings
Formal Hearings
and Investigation
of Rates
Rates
PURC Decision
Publication of
Rates
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