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Energy Insider Blog

Why Don’t More Financial Execs Oversee Their Energy Supply Agreements

Posted by Richard Zdunkewicz on Jun 6, 2016 6:23:53 PM

It is concerning to observe a pattern of financial executives unaware of the terms of their own company’s energy supply agreements; particularly when to me it is so clear this is a necessity. These commitments represent substantial financial exposure that are arranged, in some cases, outside the company’s risk management policy and processes for financial commitments. Another very important reason for financial executives to have knowledge of their energy supply agreements is their treatment in the event of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Obviously, no business plans for bankruptcy, but prudent financial executives should understand the potentially substantive risks that might arise in this unlikely event.

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Topics: Acclaim Energy Advisors, energy, energy savings, energy blog, electricity markets

Weak NG and Power Market Fundamentals - Low Price Environment Will Linger in 2016

Posted by Alberto Rios on Mar 7, 2016 2:39:58 PM

The lack of sustained cold temperatures across the consuming regions has curbed heating demand from residential and commercial consumers. El Niño has had a major influence this winter, so the bouts of below normal temperatures that have swept the eastern half of the country have been short lived. As we approach the spring, natural gas and power fundamentals continue to be bearish because of the following factors:

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Topics: forward curve, risk management, energy, Natural Gas Supply, NG Demand, Texas, NG

2014-2015 Winter Weather, What to Expect?

Posted by Alberto Rios on Oct 9, 2014 11:59:00 AM

During the fall, meteorologists sharpen their assumption to build their probability weighted winter weather forecast scenarios. From an energy perspective, this is also a critical time of the year. Since it is typically a period of low energy demand, there tend to be seasonal dips that provide good buying opportunities in natural and electricity. This year though, natural gas prices have been seesawing since mid-July 2014 due to the following reasons:

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Topics: Heating Season\, Polar Vortex, Texas Energy, forward curve, winter strip, spot price, energy risk management, energy sourcing, Acclaim Energy Advisors, energy management consulting, energy, energy procurement, weather outlook, reliable energy, energy costs, power generation, Weekly Energy Insights, natural gas, Event, energy management, energy management consultants, strategic energy sourcing, reserve margin, Price Spike, energy blog, power outages, Natural Gas Supply, price volatility, reserve, report, energy storage, NG Demand, seasonal drought, energy supply, EIA, Texas, Winter Weather, U.S. energy, NG, forecasting, refueling season, NG contract

Weather Effect on Regional Natural Gas Spot Prices

Posted by Jennifer Chang on Aug 29, 2014 11:08:00 AM

Multiple supply and demand factors affect seasonal natural gas and electricity spot [1]prices across the country:

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Topics: Heating Season\, Polar Vortex, forward curve, winter strip, spot price, Heat Rate, black swan event, pipeline capacity, energy sourcing, Acclaim Energy Advisors, risk management, energy, energy procurement, weather outlook, demand response, energy regulations, energy reliability, energy savings, Weekly Energy Insights, natural gas, energy management, reserve margin, energy price spikes, Price Spike, energy blog, Natural Gas Supply, price volatility, NG Demand, Winter Weather, new england, NG

Natural Gas Supply Outpacing Demand

Posted by Jennifer Chang on Jul 11, 2014 12:39:00 PM

Natural gas inventories have recovered significantly after reaching an 11-year record low of 822Bcf in late March-2014. During the last nine weeks, natural gas injections into storage have outperformed historical levels, and eight of them exceeded 100Bcf/week. Moreover, the last nine injections have exceeded the five-year average gains by 24Bcf on average. The drivers behind these above normal injections are the following:

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Topics: Texas Energy, tropical storm, hurricane, energy sourcing, Acclaim Energy Advisors, energy management consulting, risk management, energy, Energy Solutions, energy procurement, weather outlook, reliable energy, demand response, energy regulations, energy reliability, energy savings, Weekly Energy Insights, natural gas, energy management, Price Spike, energy blog, power outages, Natural Gas Supply, price volatility, mild weather, energy supply, Texas, load generators, Peak Demand, forecasting

Energy Future Holdings-Is a Bankruptcy Filing Looming?

Posted by Jennifer Chang on Feb 28, 2014 12:48:00 PM

On October 10, 2007, the largest leveraged buy-out in American history was completed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Texas Pacific Group and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. Energy Future Holdings (EFH), executed a merger agreement to acquire all the shares of the publicly traded TXU Corp for $45 billion (32 billion plus $13billion in assumed debt). All parties agreed to the deal in February 2007, and in September 2007, TXU shareholders had approved the takeover. EFH ended up with a portfolio of competitive and regulated energy companies:

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Topics: TXU, bankruptcy, Energy Future Holdings, TXU Energy, ERCOT, energy sourcing, Acclaim Energy Advisors, energy management consulting, energy, Energy Solutions, energy procurement, demand response, energy reliability, energy costs, Weekly Energy Insights, energy management, energy blog, DLO 365, U.S. energy, curtailment, NYMEX

Highest NYMEX Natural Gas Expiration in Four Years: Tough Risk Management Lesson for Some

Posted by Jennifer Chang on Jan 31, 2014 5:16:00 PM

On January 2, 2014, the NYMEX Henry Hub NG February-2014 (front month) contract settled at $4.321/MMBtu, and on January 29, 2014, the contract expired at $5.557/MMBtu (see chart below). This was the highest expiration settlement price for the front month in four years. During the month of January, the front month contract rose $1.24/MMBtu, or 28.6%. The chart below shows that on expiration day (1/29/14) the front month price posted a $0.52/MMBtu or 10% gain for the day. The March 2014 contract followed suit and rallied almost 11%, settling at $5.465/MMBtu. During the expiration day, weather forecasts turned colder than previously expected, so market players that underestimated demand rushed to the market and were clobbered in a short squeeze.

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Topics: energy risk management, energy sourcing, Acclaim Energy Advisors, energy, Energy Solutions, energy procurement, reliable energy, demand response, energy regulations, energy reliability, energy savings, energy costs, power generation, Weekly Energy Insights, natural gas, energy management, energy management consultants, energy price spikes, Price Spike, energy blog, Natural Gas Supply, price volatility, energy supply, U.S. energy, NG, curtailment, Emergency, gas gross production report, price direction, NG contract, NYMEX

NG Spot Prices Reach Record Levels and Boost Power Prices During January 2014

Posted by Jennifer Chang on Jan 24, 2014 5:17:00 PM

Two ruthless surges of arctic air, east of the Rockies, have taken over the eastern half of the country this month. The latest forecasts suggest that this weather pattern will continue to linger through the end of the month. Sub-zero temperatures are expected in the upper Midwest cities and the great lakes, including Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit and possible below zero temperatures as far south as the Ohio River. Factoring in wind chill, temperatures are expected to be 20 or 30 degrees below zero. This weekend a couple of Canadian clippers will be followed by another arctic surge through mid-next week with conditions that could rival those from January 6, 2014. A Canadian clipper (a.k.a Alberta clipper) is a storm system during the winter months that originates from the Canadian Province of Alberta (or there close by). The term "clipper" originates from the quick speeds of clipper sailing ships.  Thus, an Alberta clipper is a quick-moving winter storm system originating from Alberta, Canada. A clipper will usually bring smaller bursts of snow (generally 1-3 inches) along with colder temperatures and often times gusty winds (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

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Topics: energy risk management, Acclaim Energy Advisors, risk management, energy, Energy Solutions, energy procurement, weather outlook, reliable energy, demand response, energy regulations, energy reliability, energy savings, energy costs, power generation, Weekly Energy Insights, natural gas, Event, energy management, energy management consultants, energy price spikes, Price Spike, energy blog, energy supply, Winter Weather, U.S. energy, Peak Demand, mid-atlantic, new england, NG

Natural Gas Market Supplies Tighten On Higher Than Normal Draws- Are You Protected Against Price Spikes?

Posted by Jennifer Chang on Jan 21, 2014 10:18:00 AM

So far, the 2013-2014 winter has been exceptionally cold across the eastern half of the U.S. Arctic outbreaks and the bitter cold winds from the Polar Vortex have spilled across major natural gas consuming regions. Massive draws from inventory have been needed to meet surging demand for heating from the residential, commercial and electric power sectors. This season has been characterized by withdrawals that have been much larger than average.

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Topics: Heating Season\, Polar Vortex, energy risk management, energy sourcing, Acclaim Energy Advisors, energy management consulting, risk management, energy, energy procurement, demand response, energy regulations, energy reliability, energy costs, power generation, Weekly Energy Insights, natural gas, energy management, energy management consultants, energy price spikes, Price Spike, energy blog, Natural Gas Supply, energy supply, U.S. energy, capacity markets, refueling season

Arctic Blast Shuts Down 20% of PJM's Installed Capacity-Conservation, Demand Response and Power Imports Save the Day

Posted by Jennifer Chang on Jan 12, 2014 10:49:00 AM

PJM is the largest regional transmission organization (RTO) in the U.S. and coordinates wholesale operations in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

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Topics: ERCOT, energy risk management, Acclaim Energy Advisors, energy management consulting, risk management, energy, Energy Solutions, energy procurement, weather outlook, reliable energy, energy regulations, energy reliability, PJM, energy savings, energy costs, Weekly Energy Insights, energy management, energy price spikes, energy blog, power outages, Winter Weather, U.S. energy, load generators, RTO

   

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