A descriptive analytics framework for operational and environmental drivers in electricity supply chain networks

Electricity systems function as multi-stage supply chains comprising generation, transmission, distribution, and retail. Within this network, Transmission System Operators (TSOs) play a critical role in transporting high-voltage electricity from generators to distribution networks. This paper presents a descriptive analytics study of cost and contextual variables in the Brazilian electricity transmission sector, with implications for regulatory benchmarking and cost analysis in infrastructure systems. Drawing on a dataset of 74 observations collected through regulatory reporting, the study examines operational variables used in the benchmarking model and environmental variables that reflect contextual conditions beyond managerial control. For the operational variables, a series of analytical techniques, including multidimensional scaling, hierarchical clustering, principal component analysis, and a regression linking operational expenditure (Opex) to the resulting components, is applied to uncover structural relationships among variables. The results indicate a positive association between Opex and the overall scale of network infrastructure and show that, conditional on scale, TSOs with a stronger orientation toward high-voltage transmission components and reactive power management are associated with higher cost levels, whereas TSOs emphasizing lower-voltage network elements tend to exhibit lower Opex. Environmental variables further cluster into interpretable groupings related to vegetation and terrain conditions, climatic exposure, and physical accessibility, all of which may influence cost but lie outside managerial control. These findings provide insights for researchers, regulators, and practitioners by offering a structured framework for analyzing cost structures and performance variability in regulated electricity transmission networks. • Apply descriptive analytics to explore cost drivers in electricity transmission. • Uncover hidden structures in operational and contextual variables. • Show how high-voltage infrastructure shapes expenditure levels. • Identify how terrain and vegetation affect infrastructure costs. • Inform benchmarking with insights from supply chain data patterns.