Projects

The project aims to develop analytical capacity to investigate the medium to longer term implications of changes to the underlying sector fundamentals and the threats to Eskom's business model. It also aims to identify gaps in the public discourse relating to the financial aspects of the current Eskom crises and options for reform. ...

The overall aim of the project is to undertake analysis and engage in stakeholder and media engagements to contribute to the public discourse on the energy transition in South Africa. This will further support policy and regulatory decisions that accelerate this process. ...

Meridian has been appointed to prepare the tariff application on behalf of the client. The work entails: developing a detailed tariff model which considers the implications of different tariff methodologies, and enables detailed scenario and stochastic analysis to be performed; the preparation of the tariff application document itself; and assistance with regulatory engagement throughout the process. ...

Meridian was requested to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the implications of the new methodology, and to prepare a submission to NERSA on behalf of the client. We developed a financial model to compare the impact of the three possible tariff methodologies being considered and evaluated each from the perspective of the client's commercial and financing strategy. It became clear that the new proposals exposed investors to significant new risks, which, if not adequately addressed by the regulatory regime, could scupper new investment. We are also assisting the client with ongoing engagements with the Regulator regarding their concerns about the ...

Meridian was tasked with developing a financial model of the mine, in conjunction with a mining engineering consultant. The aim of the model was to calculate the price for the Eskom coal that would enable the ongoing viability of the mine under different stochastically generated coal market and macro economic scenarios, and mine production configurations. ...

We created a pricing mechanism using a number of objective, measurable features related to customers' consumption profiles which allowed significant variation in pricing. This mechanism created incentives for customers to improve their efficiency by rewarding customers who use gas in a more consistent manner with lower prices. Creation of the pricing mechanism required use of non-linear mathematical optimisation techniques under multiple constraints in order to satisfy the competing requirements. ...

We built a complex levelised cost model that could calculate tariffs for multiple infrastructure items delivering multiple capacity increases over arbitrary timeframes. We used this model to assist the client with their tariff application strategy and to calculate the final tariff application. We prepared all regulatory submission documents for the client's final review. ...

We built a financial model of the savings that would be realised by the power utility under various possible operational modes, quantities of gas sold and instantaneous demand requirements. We integrated this model with the clients own financial model to ensure that multiple scenarios could be analysed both from the client's perspective and that of the utility. ...

We provided analytical, and strategic support in a number of Gas Supply Agreement negotiations between our client (a piped-gas trader) and their customers. We assisted by calculating the possible profit impact of offering customised escalation adjustment mechanisms under uncertain future scenarios, and by quantifying the sensitivity of a customer's pricing to the pattern-of-use elements of the pricing mechanism under their control. We created innovative mechanisms to facilitate differential pricing for appropriate customers whilst complying with the non-discriminatory requirements of the regulatory environment. ...

After a thorough analysis of the client's business strategy, we constructed both a levelised cost tariff model and a rate of return tariff model. Based on the client's business requirements we advised the implementation of a levelised cost tariff indexed to inflation. We created a complex levelised cost model to calculate the appropriate tariff to be charged considering the financial implications of various operational scenarios. We were instrumental in the NERSA application process, writing all submission documentation for the client's final review. The tariff application was successfully approved, unchallenged, by NERSA in March 2013. To our knowledge this was the ...