Identification of cost relevant structural characteristics for medium voltage networks

Electrical networks have taken a natural monopoly position also in the liberalized energy market. For that reason, regulation authorities have to create mechanisms that guarantees a permanently low-priced but also safe electricity supply. This includes an efficiency evaluation of the grid operators. Up to now strong efficiency statements have not been possible because of the insufficient knowledge of the reason-effect relation between structural characteristics of the supply area and the network structure necessary to fulfil the requirements. This paper will therefore present cost-determining structural characteristics for medium voltage networks using a method based on the model of the network planning process.