Operational risk
Case study - A newcomer's view
Already present in the power markets of Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania, Italian power utility Enel sees eastern Europe as ripe for physical acquisition and market participation. Enel's Fabio Mezzetti and Tatiana Glouchtchenko talk about the risks and…
Forward thinking for backwardation
In certain settings it's reasonable to assume that the current futures price embodies the market expectations of the spot price. However, as Gary Dorris, Sean Burrows and Vena Kostroun explain, there are distinct situations when this assumption does not…
Weathering power's demand
Using temperature forecasts to predict power demand has some major pitfalls. Here Martin Fischer and Michael Grossman suggest ways to glean more from forecasted temperature data
Brazil switches on to risk management
As Brazil's electricity market restructures, increasingly sophisticated risk management tools and systems are required, writes Leigh Parkinson
Paul de Fries, group risk manager, Noble Group
Paul de Fries is group risk manager of Noble Group. He began his career at the IPE, was a derivatives trader with Hull, and later joined ING Bank. He was head trader at Macquarie Bank before joining Noble in 2001
DME on track for Q4 launch
The DME reveals the details of its first sour crude contract, while construction work begins on its trading floor
Technology - Software selection - Selection success
Getting the best results from external ETRM software offerings requires careful preparation and an ongoing commitment from management. Addam Alderete outlines the key issues
Empirical electricity price modelling
Hanjie Chen and John N. Jiang discuss how system-wide load-capacity ratio and system-wide generation forced outages impact day-ahead electricity spot price and show how to incorporate these two key factors in the price modelling
In search of STP
Trading complexity, compliance issues and increasing competition are all driving companies to improve their electronic STP processes. Eric Fishhaut takes a look at some of the latest developments
Technology - Build or buy - To build or buy?
Today's complex energy markets mean the traditional decision of whether to build or buy trading and risk management software systems has never been more important, writes Mark Raine
Trading concerns
The convictions of Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling in May closed a sorry chapter in energy trading. But it should be noted that much of what was good about Enron remains. However, some are concerned that Enron-like innovation now risks being stifled by lack…
Technology - Project management - A stitch in time
Companies entering the energy sector have a fairly short window of opportunity to get up and running. City Practitioners Ian Bentinck and Jeremy Taylor examine some of the technological and project management issues that can arise
Benefits of compliance
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 profoundly increases regulatory risk for energy market participants in the US, but implementing an effective compliance programme can have long-lasting benefits, writes former FERC executive William Hederman, Michael Griffen…
Industry gets energised
Attracting some 300 delegates, this year's Energy Risk USA conference was by far the biggest and most successful it's been since the fall of Enron, writes Stella Farrington
Weathering the impact of stormy price hikes
At the start of the 2006 hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, Zachary Simecek takes a look at the impact on the energy markets
Brian O'Cathain, CEO, Afren
Brian O'Cathain, CEO of oil exploration company Afren, talks with Eithne Treanor about the risks and rewards facing small oil companies in Africa.
Time to get physical
For the second tier of banks wishing to buy physical energy assets, the next two years will be critical. Antony Kakoudakis and Aarzoo Shah consider this trend and examine some of the hurdles newer entrants face
A prime time for energy prime brokerage?
The rise of electronic energy markets may prompt energy companies to seek a simple clearing solution through one primary bank, rather than build relations with several clearers, writes Ron Villarin
The impact of SOX on supply chain management
Of the many changes companies have had to introduce as a result of Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, the most useful one is arguably the integration of supply chain management with financial risk management, writes Raees Lakhani