Group 1: Achievements of Power System Reform - The power system reform during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period has shown significant results, transitioning from a planned to a market-oriented approach, enhancing competition in generation and sales sectors [2][3] - The national marketized trading volume of electricity is projected to grow from 1 trillion kWh in 2016 to 6.2 trillion kWh in 2024, accounting for 63% of total electricity consumption [3] - The number of market participants in the electricity sector has surged from 42,000 in 2016 to 970,000 by 2025, creating a diverse competitive landscape [5] Group 2: Challenges in Power System Reform - Despite notable progress, further reforms are needed in market rule design and pricing mechanisms to adapt to the high proportion of renewable energy integration and the rapid development of new entities [6][7] - The current electricity market theory based on marginal cost needs refinement to better reflect the multi-dimensional value of electricity, including flexibility and environmental considerations [6] - The demand-side market remains partially open, and the pricing does not adequately reflect the cost differences across time periods, affecting resource utilization efficiency [6][7] Group 3: Future Outlook for Power System Reform - Future reforms should prioritize the security of the power system while promoting a clean and low-carbon energy transition through continuous institutional innovation [8] - The establishment of a pricing mechanism that optimizes resource allocation is essential, allowing for price signals to reflect the efficiency of asset utilization and safety of grid operations [9] - Accelerating the construction of a capacity market and improving its price formation mechanism will help balance supply and demand, ensuring economic and reliable power supply [11]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the significant achievements and ongoing challenges of China's electricity system reform during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, highlighting the transition from a planned to a market-oriented electricity production organization, and the need for further reforms to adapt to the new energy system and high proportion of renewable energy integration [2][6]. Group 1: Achievements of Electricity System Reform - The reform has led to a remarkable increase in market-oriented electricity transactions, with national market transactions rising from 1 trillion kWh in 2016 to 6.2 trillion kWh in 2024, accounting for 63% of total electricity consumption [3]. - The volume of cross-provincial and cross-regional market transactions reached 1.4 trillion kWh in 2024, growing more than tenfold since 2016 [3]. - The trading volume of green certificates in 2024 reached 446 million, a staggering increase of 364% year-on-year, while green electricity trading exceeded 230 billion kWh, up 235.2% [3]. - Over 50% of renewable energy generation is now consumed through market mechanisms, maintaining a utilization rate of over 95% despite rapid growth in installed renewable capacity [3]. Group 2: Market Structure and Competition - A unified market system covering inter-provincial, provincial, mid-to-long-term, spot, and ancillary service markets has been preliminarily established, with seven provinces having transitioned to formal operation of their electricity spot markets [4]. - The number of market participants has surged from 42,000 in 2016 to 970,000 by 2025, creating a diverse and competitive market landscape [5]. - Various types of power sources, including gas, nuclear, and hydropower, are now participating in market bidding, enhancing competition and optimizing generation behavior [5]. Group 3: Challenges Ahead - Despite significant progress, further reforms are needed in market rule design and pricing mechanisms to better accommodate the integration of high proportions of renewable energy and the rapid development of new market entities [6]. - The current electricity market theory based on marginal cost needs refinement to reflect the multi-dimensional value of electricity, including flexibility, safety, and environmental considerations [6]. - The demand-side market remains partially closed, and electricity pricing does not adequately reflect the cost differences across time periods, limiting the effectiveness of price signals in guiding user behavior [6]. Group 4: Future Outlook for Reform - Future reforms should prioritize the security of the electricity system while promoting a clean and low-carbon energy transition, focusing on continuous innovation in institutional mechanisms to support high-quality development of the new electricity system [7]. - Price optimization is essential for resource allocation, requiring orderly competition to avoid price distortions and incentivize cost reduction and efficiency [8]. - Innovative trading mechanisms for renewable energy should be explored to stabilize revenue levels and encourage participation in the spot market [9][10]. - The construction of a capacity market should be accelerated to reflect the long-term marginal costs of various power sources and ensure reliable supply [11]. - A transparent cost-sharing mechanism for transmission and distribution should be established to enhance resource allocation efficiency and support renewable energy consumption [12]. - A precise cost transmission pricing mechanism is needed to help end-users understand the true costs of electricity, encouraging demand-side response and optimizing resource utilization [13].