報告書番号

Y12027

タイトル（和文）

再生可能エネルギー電力普及策と送電線中立化策 :米国の電力買取制度をめぐる議論

タイトル（英文）

The Promotion of Renewable Electricity and the Transmission Open Access: the Discussions on Renewable Purchase Programs in the United States.

概要 （図表や脚注は「報告書全文」に掲載しております）

日本の送配電部門中立化策と再生可能エネルギー電力買取制度の整合性に関する疑問に答えるため，米国における同様の法制度に関する議論を整理・検討した。その結果，米国においても，送電線中立化策である「オープンアクセス」と各種の再生可能エネルギー電力買取制度の整合性に疑問を呈する見解が登場していることや，連邦レベルでの買取制度であるPURPAが，オープンアクセスの実施による送電線中立化の確立などを根拠として縮小されていることなどを明らかにした。

概要 （英文）

Japan started its renewable purchase program from July 2012. However, the policy makers have not exchanged their views on how to harmonize the transmission and distribution independence with the purchase program that allows privileged grid access to particular renewable generators. Likewise, the United States has adopted, in addition to state RPS programs, mandatory purchase programs such as the 1978 Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act and recent state-law feed-in tariffs, while it has promoted federal transmission open access policies such as Order No. 888.
This report surveys discussions over the conflicts between renewable purchase programs and transmission open access policies in the United States. Major findings are as follows: (i) While the transmission open access initially aimed to protect non-utility generators from discriminatory treatment by transmission-owning utilities, the legal and regulatory experts began to consider that open access may conflict with purchase programs often accompanied with the privileged grid access. (ii) The PURPA purchase obligations were substantially diminished by a statutory amendment in 2005, which reflects the Congress' view favoring open access over purchase program. (iii) Japanese policymakers should consider whether grid independence can be disregarded against purchase programs. If grid independence is deemed to be more important, Japan should repeal the current purchase program, and consider more competitively neutral policies such as the revival of renewable portfolio standards and the subsidy to renewable developers.

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