Impacts of Network Constraints on Electricity Market Equilibrium

Nash equilibrium is usually used as the solution of generator's strategic bidding in electricity markets. The available literature has shown by simulation that multiple market equilibria or no pure equilibrium may be induced after the inclusion of network constraints (transmission constraints). This paper presents a systematical analysis for the impacts of network constraints on the market equilibrium in oligopolistic electricity markets. In our modeling, the independent system operator (ISO) dispatches generation and determines nodal prices via solving an optimal power flow (OPF); and the individual generator optimizes its submitted supply function with Nash-supply function equilibrium (SFE) strategy, after taking into account ISO's decision-making process on dispatched generations and nodal prices. The conditions for the existence of equilibrium are given, and it is shown that there may be multiple equilibria or no pure Nash equilibrium. The equilibrium, if it exists, will be at a point where generators pay no congestion charge