Source - Ei Justerad Utnyttjningsgrad (2024)
Document: Beräkning av justerad utnyttjningsgrad, Ei 1000 v-1.1, Energimarknadsinspektionen (Ei), 2024-03-27.
Source type: Ei technical guidance (short form, 3 pages)
Legal basis: EIFS 2023:6 (om vad som avses med kvaliteten i nätverksamheten och vad som avses med ett effektivt utnyttjande av elnätet vid fastställande av intäktsram)
Purpose
Explains a new optional reporting mechanism — the justerad utnyttjningsgrad (adjusted utilization rate) — that DSOs can submit to Ei starting in 2028 to correct for distortions caused by new renewable production connections.
Background: the utnyttjningsgrads-incitament
The utnyttjningsgrads-incitament (utilization rate incentive) is one of three incentive components in Ei’s intäktsramsreglering (revenue cap regulation), alongside the quality incentive (leveranskvalitet) and the cost efficiency requirement (effektiviseringskrav).
The incentive is designed to reward DSOs for using their grid capacity efficiently — i.e., running the grid at higher average load relative to peak load, which indicates less overbuilt capacity and better demand management.
Formula (per EIFS 2023:6):
Utnyttjningsgrad = mean of all daily average loads / mean of the 4 highest daily peak loads during a calendar year
The utnyttjningsgrad is reported annually as part of the DSO’s årsrapport (annual report). The norm value is based on the normperiod (2018–2021). DSO’s actual performance during the regulatory period is compared to the norm — deviation triggers a positive or negative revenue adjustment.
The distortion problem
New renewable production connections (solar parks, wind farms) connected as pure-production facility points create a distortion in the utnyttjningsgrad calculation:
- In some hours: production reduces net load on the grid → apparent utilization improves (looks better than it is)
- In other hours: production increases export flow to adjacent grids → apparent utilization worsens (looks worse than it is)
Neither effect reflects the DSO’s actual network management efficiency — they reflect the behaviour of connected generators. Without correction, DSOs with significant new renewable production connections receive a distorted incentive signal.
The adjustment mechanism
DSOs that have had increased local production — new production-only connection points commissioned on or after 1 January 2022 (the year after the normperiod 2018–2021 ends) — may submit a justerad utnyttjningsgrad.
Key definition: Eligible production points must be exclusively production facilities. The following are excluded from eligibility (mixed-use):
- Residential customers with rooftop solar
- Housing associations with solar
- Public buildings with solar
- Farmers with wind production at the same connection point as other activities
Only pure production facilities (e.g. large wind farms or solar parks connected at a dedicated grid point) qualify.
Calculation: Same formula as regular utnyttjningsgrad, but:
- Regular: includes only boundary points (gränspunkter) between grid areas
- Adjusted: also includes the new production connection points (adds their output with positive sign to the hourly flow summation)
Example (from document):
| Hour 1 | Hour 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Import from adjacent grid | +10 | +100 |
| Export to adjacent grid | −80 | −20 |
| New production (included in adjusted) | +20 | +10 |
| Net flow (adjusted) | −50 | +90 |
| Hourly mean (absolute value) | 50 | 90 |
In hour 1, production increases export → adjusted gives lower flow than unadjusted. In hour 2, production reduces import → adjusted gives higher flow than unadjusted.
Reporting rule
- Deadline: 31 March 2028 (three months after RP4 ends 31 December 2027)
- Frequency: Every four years, simultaneously with post-period reconciliation
- Optional: If a DSO does not submit, Ei uses the regular utnyttjningsgrad from the annual reports
- Coverage: All four years of the regulatory period (2024–2027) must be submitted together
- Separate from årsrapporten: This is not part of the annual reporting cycle
Relevance to wiki topics
- Ei: One of the three incentive mechanisms in the revenue cap system; this adjustment prevents the utnyttjningsgrads-incitament from penalizing DSOs for connecting new renewables
- Distribution Network Development Plan: DSOs with significant new production connections (e.g. offshore wind, large solar) need to track this for the 2028 reconciliation
- Flexibility Market: Tangential relevance — the utnyttjningsgrads-incitament is one of Ei’s tools for shaping DSO behaviour; the adjusted calculation makes it more neutral with respect to DER connection decisions
- Generator Connection Requirements: Pure-production facilities are the eligible category — this interacts with the growing queue of wind/solar projects seeking connection