Abstract
In the scope of the discussions about microgeneration (and microgrids), the avoided electrical losses are often pointed out as an important value to be credited to those entities. Therefore, methods to assess the impact of microgeneration on losses must be developed in order to support the definition of a suitable regulatory framework for the economic integration of microgeneration on distribution networks. This paper presents an analytical method to quantify the value of avoided losses that microgeneration may produce on LV networks. Intervals of expected avoided losses are used to account for the variation of avoided losses due to the number, size and location of microgenerators, as well as for the kind of load distribution on LV networks.

Abstract
The emergence of microgeneration has recently lead to the concept of microgrid, a network of LV consumers and producers able to export electric energy in some circumstances and also to work in an isolated way in emergency situations. Research on the organization of microgrids, control devices, functionalities and other technical aspects is presently being carried out, in order to establish a consistent technical framework to support the concept. The successful development of the microgrid concept implies the definition of a suitable regulation for its integration on distribution systems. In order to define such a regulation, the identification of costs and benefits that microgrids may bring is a crucial task. Actually, this is the basis fora discussion about the way global costs could be divided among the different agents that benefit from the development of microgrids. Among other aspects, the effect of microgrids on the reliability of the distribution network has been pointed out as an important advantage, due to the ability of isolated operation in emergency situations. This paper identifies the situations where the existence of a microgrid may reduce the interruption rate and duration and thus improve the reliability indices of the distribution network. The relevant expressions necessary to quantify the reliability are presented. An illustrative example is included, where the global influence of the microgrid in the reliability is commented.

Abstract
The recent development of the concept of microgrid (mu Grid), associated to the emergent interest in microgeneration (mu Gen), has raised a number of challenges regarding the evaluation of the technical, economical and regulatory impacts of a high penetration of this kind of solutions in the power systems. In this paper, the topic of security of supply is addressed, aiming at evaluating the influence of mu Gen and mu Grids in the medium- and long-term availability of generation to serve the forecasted load. A Monte-Carlo based methodology is used to evaluate this influence and to assess the capacity credit of those entities.

Abstract
The concept of microgrid (mu Grid) has been emerging as a way to integrate microgeneration (mu G) in low-voltage (LV) networks and simultaneously improve its potential benefits. Technical requirements to connect mu grids to LV networks have been studied in order to make this concept technologically feasible and safe to operate. However, the regulatory framework for economic integration of mu G and mu Grids on distribution systems, despite being crucial, is still an open issue. The main purpose of this paper is to contribute for the development of an appropriate economic regulation framework that removes the barriers to mu G and mu Grid development. To do so, the relevant costs and benefits resulting from the establishment of mu G and mu Grid are identified and a methodology for sharing those costs and benefits among the involved economic agents is presented. The only prerequisite of such a methodology is the existence of a net benefit to all economic agents.

Abstract
To modernize distribution networks and enable the energy transition, we need to understand the most appro-priate regulatory approach. A set of new technologies with positive externalities challenge the traditional reg-ulatory models. We develop a decision model to assess firms' incentives to invest in new technologies under different regulatory schemes that consider externality effects. Results show that regulatory schemes under which companies retain the gains (or losses) of achieving (or not) efficiency targets more effectively promote inno-vation investments that reduce network costs. However, a case-by-case approach should be preferred for tech-nologies whose benefits go mostly beyond the network activities.