Two-Part Pricing Mechanism for Inter-Provincial Power Transmission Channels Considering Capacity Value

In view of the problems of high investment recovery risks and limited market efficiency associated with the current single-rate electricity pricing mechanism for inter-provincial and inter-regional dedicated transmission projects in China, this paper proposes a two-part pricing model that considering capacity value. The two-part tariff mechanism recovers fixed costs through capacity-based pricing (regulated by a proportional coefficient K) and variable costs through volume-based pricing, thereby balancing the stability of transmission revenue with resource allocation efficiency. Based on seven actual transmission channels, the case study shows that when the actual utilization hours of transmission channels are lower than the tariff hours, the two-part tariff system generates significantly higher revenue than the single-part tariff system, with revenue volatility reduced by more than 60%. At the same time, as the proportion of capacity charges increases, transmission channel revenue becomes more stable, effectively mitigating the impact of fluctuations in transmission volume. The research has confirmed that the two-part tariff system can balance the reasonable returns of investors with the coordinated consumption needs of regional power markets, providing theoretical support for transmission and distribution tariff reforms in the context of a unified national power market.