News interpretation ｜ China’s comprehensive implementation of time-of-use electricity price to ensure the safe, stable and economic operation of power system
CCTV News:Yesterday (July 29th), the National Development and Reform Commission issued a new time-of-use electricity price mechanism, requiring all localities to implement the time-of-use electricity price according to local conditions, improve the overall utilization efficiency of the power system, and promote green and low-carbon energy development.
The simple understanding of time-of-use price is to price electricity in different periods, and the most typical time-of-use price is the peak-valley price that has been implemented in many places at present. The new time-of-use electricity price mechanism divides the 24-hour day into many periods, such as peak, peak, flat section, trough and deep valley. The electricity price in each period is different, and the difference between peak and trough is 3 to 4 times.
At the same time, the seasonal electricity price mechanism should be improved where there are obvious seasonal differences in the daily electricity load or the relationship between electricity supply and demand. Where the proportion of renewable energy such as hydropower is significant, it is necessary to establish and improve the high and low electricity price mechanism, and reasonably determine the division of time periods and the floating ratio of electricity prices.
According to experts, the new mechanism introduced this time has further clarified the scope of time-of-use electricity price, and extended it to power users who implement industrial and commercial electricity prices except for electrified railway traction electricity that is specially stipulated by the state. For some general industrial and commercial power users who are not suitable for off-peak electricity consumption, the average electricity price can be studied and formulated, and the users can choose and implement it themselves.
Ensure the safe, stable and economic operation of power system
Why should we implement time-of-use electricity price? What is the role of time-of-use electricity price? Let’s listen to the expert’s interpretation.
Electric energy cannot be stored on a large scale, and production and consumption need to be balanced in real time. The power resources consumed in different power consumption periods are different, and the power supply cost is very different. In the peak period of centralized electricity consumption, it is necessary to strengthen the power grid construction and mobilize high-cost generator sets to generate electricity at the peak, and the power supply cost is relatively high. On the contrary, in the low-valley period when the electricity consumption is less, the power supply can be guaranteed by generating electricity with low power supply cost, and the power supply cost is relatively low. Time-of-use price is designed based on the time value of electric energy, which guides power users to cut peaks and fill valleys and ensures the safe, stable and economic operation of power system.
Since the early 1980s, China has gradually implemented the time-of-use electricity price mechanism in various places. Up to now, 29 provinces have implemented the time-of-use electricity price mechanism. At present, the installed scale of new energy in China is constantly expanding, the power consumption structure is changing rapidly, and the power load shows the characteristics of "double peaks" in winter and summer, which makes it more challenging to ensure the safe and economic operation of power, and puts forward urgent requirements for further improving the time-of-use price mechanism.