Energy transition
A long road to deregulation
Prospex Research’s Ben Tait reports on Spain and Portugal’s progress in integrating their power markets. High ambitions for deregulation are proving difficult to achieve
All clear for energy
Several organisations have brought over-the-counter clearing to the US energy markets over the past six months. Kevin Foster assesses their progress and asks whether they can all survive
Looking to the long term
After years of public debate, the European Commission, energy companies and governments of gas-producing countries all seem to agree that long-term gas contracts are here to stay. So why is it still such a big issue, asks Maria Kielmas
Fighting oil volatility
Oil cartel Opec froze its production output level at its last meeting in September. With war in Iraq on the cards, Shifa Rahman reports on the future of oil volatility
Going short under the SMD
Scott Greene, Mark Niehaus and Pankaj Sahay of PricewaterhouseCoopers look at the effect of settling a short position in the day-ahead market under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s proposed standard market design
Doing the maths: physical value-at-risk
ABB’s William Rutz and Bob Fesmire investigate new tools that calculate physical value-at-risk based on simulations of generating resources and power transactions
Estimating oil price volatility: a Garch model
Nikolai Sidorenko, Michael Baron and Michael Rosenberg present a general framework for modelling energy price volatility. These models explain the volatility persistence and clustering present in many commodity prices. In addition, they can incorporate…
Through the looking glass
Unlike oil and natural gas, electricity generally suffers poor price transparency. Rachel Jacobson of FAME Information Services looks at power price discovery mechanisms in the US
Out of the zone: nodal pricing takes hold
Congestion-constrained US electricity markets are likely to find relief with the arrival of a new pricing regime, reports Catherine Lacoursière
A towering success
There is more to the Malaysian oil and natural gas giant Petronas than its impressive headquarters. One of Asia’s biggest energy players is finding new ways of branching out, as Joel Hanley discovers
Online trading moves forward
Online energy trading seems to have a bright future, despite the two biggest players – Dynegy Direct and EnronOnline – leaving the market, finds Catherine Lacoursière
Let’s get physical
Credit Lyonnais Rouse Derivatives is a commodity trader moving into natural gas trading. And not just on the financial side, as Joel Hanley discovers
Comeback in the old USSR
Russia is on the verge of becoming the world’s leading energy superpower, but a lack of investment looks set to hamper its development. Joel Hanley reports
Trouble at the paper mill
Maria Kielmas asks how energy users in Scandinavia are coping with medium-term price uncertainties and the threat of increased environmental legislation
A tight ship in rough waters
Power prices in the UK have fallen dramatically in recent months. What can the UK’s biggest power producer do to prevent more losses in this difficult market? Joel Hanley profiles British Energy
Cleaning up in California
As oil majors embrace the use of ethanol in Californian gasoline, analysts are warning that it will cause a rise in prices at the pump, as Kevin Foster discovers
A new cop on the beat?
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been severely criticised for its actions – or lack of them – during California’s disastrous attempt at deregulation. It is now hitting back at the energy industry. Kevin Foster reports
Energy trading primer
Chris Bowden says large industrial and commercial buyers could learn from energy traders’ experiences in dealing with volatile energy markets
Softly, softly in the western US
Wary Californian power traders have reverted to tried-and-tested trading strategies. But, asks Catherine Lacoursière, will the new, apparently stable market hold up to another long hot summer?