The Players of the Power Business

From generator to supplier to customer

Electricity is generated (generate) by power stations and _______________ (feed) into the high-voltage transmission network. Via transmission towers and overhead lines it _______________ (transport) to the local supplier, an organization which _______________ (own) by the municipality or the regional subsidiary of a larger power company. This local supplier is normally the first point of contact for the customer. Connections _______________ (organize) by this company, and power _______________ (deliver) to the customer.

Customer choice and role of the regulator

In some countries the supplier can _______________ (choose) by the customer as some markets ______________ (liberalize). In order to ensure that there is fair competition, some states have set up regulators. Their main task is to ensure that there is non-discriminatory third-party access. The grid fees that the operators charge for using the networks _______________ (also control). When prices ______________ (increase) by the supplier, this _______________ (also monitor) by the regulator.

The first practical generator was built by Thomas Edison (1847-1931), the famous inventor. He used it to provide electricity for his laboratory and then later to generate power for the first New York street to be illuminated by electric lamps. Unlike most AC (alternating current) generators of today, Edison’s apparatus produced DC (direct current).

Part B: Find a word or expression in the text given above which means the same as the following.

1. pylon

2. a company owned by a parent company

3. country

4. to watch and check continuously

5. to make certain

6. grid

7. to demand an amount of money for goods or services

Part C: Complete this table and then the text below using the correct word from the same table.

	Noun	Verb	Company/ Person
1	generation		generator
2	transmission
3	sales
4		to distribute
5		to regulate
6		to liberalize	--------------
7	supply

Is the regulator the answer?

In European countries where the energy market has been liberalized, many energy customers are not pleased with the results of this _______________ process. They claim there are no real benefits. They see energy companies making large profits, firstly through the _______________ of power and then as grid operators when they charge outside companies high grid fees for the _______________ of electricity through their networks. Many see _______________ as the answer for this should force companies to consider their prices. This will probably make it less profitable to _______________ the final customer with electricity and gas. Each company’s overall _______________ volume is set to decrease as more firms enter the market.

DID YOU KNOW?

In some countries, the company which operates a high-voltage grid is called the TSO (Transmission Systems Operator). The company which runs a distribution network is sometimes called the DSO (Distribution Systems Operator).

Task 19. At a follow-up meeting to the phone call in Task, Maria explains ELEC’s structure to Colin. Listen to her explanation and complete this chart taken from ELEC’s annual report. Then say which division the statements under the chart refer to.

_______________________________________

_________