Abstract
Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in power systems
exacerbates the existing information problems between power utilities
and regulators. DER policies oblivious to the trilemma of information
asymmetry between power utilities, DER aggregators, and regulators
result in distorted price signals to DER investors, and socially
inefficient DER roll-out. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a
game-theoretic approach for modeling information asymmetry in
distribution network information and consumer data between the DER
aggregators and the power utilities. The proposed framework is based on
Single Leader Single Follower (SLSF) games, reformulated as Mathematical
Programs with Equilibrium Constraints (MPECs), and solved using the
Scholtes’s relaxation technique. Our results, based on the 7-bus
Manhattan power network, show that unless the DER aggregators have
complete information about the distribution network characteristics, the
welfare along with the realized installed capacity of DERs in the system
decreases. Moreover, progressively decreasing DER investment costs
alleviate the effects of information asymmetry, suggesting that early
adopters face disproportionately high welfare losses attributed to
incomplete information between the DER stakeholders. Hence, policy
interventions to alleviate the rampant information problems are
imperative to ensure an optimal DER roll-out.