The transformation of electricity network users from passive to active agents, as a result of decreasing costs of distributed energy resources, requires several adaptions, one of which is revising the distribution network charges. Often current network charge designs do not ensure network cost recovery and lack to incentivize efficient network investments and usage. New network charge methodologies are required to guide and incentivize customers in an efficient way while maximizing system economic efficiency. This paper proposes an efficient methodology that ensures network cost recovery while promoting efficient usage of the network as well as efficient network investments. The proposed network charge design consisting of two components: a peak coincidence network charge (PCNC) and fixed charge. The PCNC is a forward-looking charge as it considers the cost of future network reinforcements required and assigned to customers during peak hours of the network utilization. Fixed charges allocate the residual of the network costs following Ramsey-pricing principles. This paper compares the outcome from economic optimum customers’ response to four different network charges: (i) volumetric charges (ii) fixed charges (iii) peak demand charge (iv) PCNC plus fixed charges. Two case studies for two different load profiles are simulated using linear programming to minimize their total costs within each charges design, considering the possibility of buying electricity from the grid and investing on onsite generation or curtail load. Finally, the paper highlights through the case studies how customer’s response is highly influenced by different network charge designs, and compares the consequences of these responses in terms of network cost recovery and total system costs. The paper concludes with practical issues that need to be considered for the implementation of the proposed network charges design.

由于降低了分布式能源的成本，电力网络用户从被动代理商转变为主动代理商需要进行多种调整，其中之一就是修改配电网费用。当前的网络收费设计经常不能确保网络成本的回收，并且缺乏激励有效的网络投资和使用的动力。需要新的网络计费方法，以在最大程度地提高系统经济效率的同时，有效地指导和激励客户。本文提出了一种有效的方法，可在确保网络成本回收的同时，促进网络的有效使用以及有效的网络投资。拟议的网络收费设计包括两个部分：峰值重合网络收费（PCNC）和固定收费。PCNC是一项前瞻性收费，因为它考虑了在网络使用高峰时段需要并分配给客户的未来网络增强功能的成本。固定费用按照Ramsey定价原则分配剩余的网络成本。本文比较了经济最优客户对四种不同网络费用的响应结果：（i）容量费用（ii）固定费用（iii）高峰需求费用（iv）PCNC加上固定费用。考虑到从电网购买电力并投资于现场发电或削减负荷的可能性，使用线性编程对两个不同负荷曲线的两个案例研究进行了模拟，以最大程度地降低每次充电设计中的总成本。最后，本文通过案例研究强调了客户的响应如何受到不同网络费用设计的高度影响，并从网络成本回收和总系统成本方面比较了这些响应的后果。本文以实施提议的网络收费设计时需要考虑的实际问题作为结束。