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PhD Defense by Archana Ghodeswar

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Candidate: Archana Ghodeswar

 

Dissertation title: “Essays on Environmental, Fiscal, and Demand-Side Policies in Electricity Markets”

 

Abstract:

In modern energy economics and policy, the electricity sector has gained prominence as one of the most critical and widely studied energy markets, due to its technical complexity and to its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity markets are comprised of generation, transmission, and distribution activities, each of which is influenced by a government’s environmental, fiscal, and demand-side policies. This dissertation explores the impact of such governmental policies on electricity markets.

First, the study examines the effects of an environmental policy mandating fly ash utilization in Indian electricity generation on coal power plant operations. A simple theoretical model is developed to gain insight and derive testable hypotheses. These hypotheses are then tested empirically by exploiting plant-level variation in fly ash utilization in India. Results indicate greater reuse of fly ash (i) increases the quantity of coal used in power generation, (ii) reduces the quality of coal used, and (iii) increases plant-level CO2 emissions. These results suggest the potential benefits of an environmental policy may be offset by an unanticipated increase in other wastes, particularly if not accompanied by supplementary regulation on other forms of pollution.

Second, the dissertation examines state-owned Indian electricity distribution utilities, where most utilities incur significant energy losses every year. The study identifies critical financial indicators that can improve state electricity distribution utilities' operational performance, such as technical and commercial losses, sales of electricity, and credit worthiness. A study of utility-level data in all Indian states shows that financial indicators such as equity, cross-subsidy effects, and return on equity are most associated with improved operational performance. By focusing on the most important financial indicators, this study offers straightforward policy recommendations to strengthen the performance of electricity distribution utilities in India.

Third, this dissertation replicates a detailed cost-benefit analysis of a national rollout of residential smart electricity meters in Ireland based on electricity consumption and survey data. In Ireland, smart gas and smart electricity meters are being rolled out to improve demand-side management. A machine learning approach is then used to make out-of-sample predictions of electricity consumption to determine whether the benefits of smart meters are consistent over time.

Although the empirical research in this dissertation pertains specifically to Indian and Irish electricity markets, the findings suggest important implications for such policies' impacts on electricity markets more generally.

 

Committee:

Matthew Oliver, PhD (advisor), GA Tech

Usha Nair-Reichert, PhD, GA Tech

Shatakshee Dhongde, PhD, GA Tech

Dylan Brewer, PhD, GA Tech

Marilyn Brown, PhD, GA Tech

 

Location: G10, School of Economics, GA Tech

https://gatech.zoom.us/j/91803861513

 

Time: July 19, 2022, 11 am

 

Status

  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:Tatianna Richardson
  • Created:07/11/2022
  • Modified By:Tatianna Richardson
  • Modified:07/11/2022

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