Slides are now available from 25 May 2011 seminar: Smart Evaluation of Electric Utility Smart Grid Investment Proposals
Slides are now available from the seminar presented by Stanford Levin, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. To view slides click HERE
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Level 5, Railway Station West Wing, Room 501 (entrance through Railway Station, take lift 3 to level 5)
12.30 - 2.00pm
This is a free seminar. Please feel free to bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided.
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Abstract: Electric companies, policy makers, and regulators around the world are facing calls for smart grid upgrades. Sometimes these upgrades make business sense and are undertaken by electric companies, as has been the case with some smart grid investments in New Zealand. Frequently, however, the calls for upgrades come with demands for significant subsidies to pay for them, as is likely to be the case for additional smart grid investments in New Zealand. In order to evaluate these subsidy requests, a cost-benefit methodology must be employed that correctly measures the societal benefits of smart grid upgrades that require a public subsidy. The application of this methodology, and an understanding of its implications, is necessary to the evaluation of smart grid deployment.
Presenter short bio: Stanford (Sandy) Levin is Emeritus Professor of Economics at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He was Chairman of the Department of Economics from 1986 to 1994. Dr Levin has a BA in Economics from Grinnell College and a PhD in Economics from the University of Michigan. He has published numerous articles, papers, reports and monographs and is co-editor of a book on antitrust and a book on telecommunications. Dr Levin consults in the areas of telecommunications, energy, antitrust and economics and his clients have included companies and public agencies in the US and in several countries around the world.
If you would like to attend this seminar please contact: kathy.mckenzie@vuw.ac.nz or phone 04 463 5562.