Transmission investment decision points and trees

The Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) has evolved significantly over the past two decades and continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Utilities have changed from vertically integrated monoliths into smaller, unbundled, and market driven entities. There have been significant changes in generation markets; generation and smart grid technologies; load profiles; mobile loads (electric vehicles); and generation lead-time to market. On the other hand, the grid expansions have seen a much-increased time lag in developing and implementing new transmission grid. The increased time to develop new grid is largely due to increased environmental requirements and public participation in acquiring acceptable rights of way (servitudes) to construct new grid. Also, obtaining the necessary financial approvals for grid expansions has become increasingly difficult, underpinned by increased pressure to reduce cost and regulatory acceptance of price increases.