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Structures tarifaires et spirale de la mort : État des lieux des pratiques de tarification dans la distribution d’électricité résidentielle

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  • Timothé Beaufils
  • Pierre-Olivier Pineau

Abstract

Increasing penetration of decentralized energy resources (DER) is currently disrupting distribution grid’s monopoly. Basic tariff structures, mostly based on energy charges, are being outdated. Prosumers, a new class of residential ratepayers being both producers and consumers of electricity keep using the grid while their financial contribution is decreasing, causing tariff rises and inequities among users. This phenomenon, known under the term of “utility death spiral”, represents a major threat to utilities’ profitability. To tackle those new challenges, Distribution System Operators (DSOs) must improve their rate policies. In Europe, each utility is unbundled, allowing high flexibility in setting rates design. This results in a lot of different grid tariff structures applied, some of them being particularly daring. In North America, the situation is particularly unclear due to the heterogeneity of actor’s nature. Though, most utilities still seem to rely mostly on volumetric and fixed charges. Finally, this report aims to offer a global overview of the current challenges faced by grid utilities, and on how some DSOs are trying to move forward. By doing so, we hope that rate politics’ stakeholders will have a broader vision on the range of decent practices. Le développement des technologies décentralisées remet en question la place des réseaux dans le marché de l’électricité. Les structures tarifaires standards, principalement basées sur la quantité d’énergie consommée, ne sont désormais plus adaptées, et entraînent des risques de baisse de revenus pour les opérateurs de réseaux. Les consommacteurs, une nouvelle classe d’usagers qui investit dans les technologies de production et de stockage à domicile, continuent de bénéficier des avantages du réseau sans en payer une juste part. Ce phénomène, connu sous le nom de « spirale de la mort », est susceptible d’avoir des conséquences très néfastes sur la stabilité financière des opérateurs de réseau, et contrevient au principe d’équité censé guider la conception des structures tarifaires. Face à la nécessité de changer la composition du prix de l’électricité, on observe une grande hétérogénéité de pratiques autour du monde. Le marché européen, entièrement dégroupé entre producteurs, organismes de transmission, distributeurs et fournisseurs d’énergie, connait une grande variété de structures tarifaires, avec des prises de position très marquées en faveur de l’une ou l’autre des alternatives. En Amérique du Nord, si la diversité des statuts des opérateurs de distribution complique les comparaisons, l’introduction de nouveaux modes de tarification semble pour l’instant très marginale, et les tarifs volumétriques sont encore largement dominant. Finalement, ce rapport dresse un état des lieux succins des défis que doivent affronter les opérateurs de réseaux électriques, et propose un aperçu des réponses proposées autour du monde à ces divers enjeux. Il pourra apporter des points de repères sur les pratiques déjà en place, afin d’éclairer les acteurs impliqués dans la définition des politiques tarifaires.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothé Beaufils & Pierre-Olivier Pineau, 2018. "Structures tarifaires et spirale de la mort : État des lieux des pratiques de tarification dans la distribution d’électricité résidentielle," CIRANO Working Papers 2018s-27, CIRANO.
    • Handle: RePEc:cir:cirwor:2018s-27
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    References listed on IDEAS

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