Risk management
US cannot cope with power demand: Nerc
Electricity usage in the United States is projected to grow more than twice as fast as capacity growth over the next 10 years, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has warned in its 2007 Long-Term Reliability Assessment.
Bid to close Enron loophole
Legislation aimed at preventing price manipulation and excessive speculation in energy markets has been introduced to the US Senate, writes David Watkins
Concerns abound over EC energy package
The EC's third energy package, which recommends that generators and suppliers sell off their transmission assets, has met with resistance from incumbent utilities and raised questions among traders. Oliver Holtaway reports
Onward with offsets
Awareness of the effect of carbon emissions on climate change has driven growth in the market for voluntary carbon offsets. So who is getting involved, and why? Roderick Bruce finds out
EC energy package meets mixed response
The EC’s third package of EU energy market liberalisation measures has stopped short of insisting on full ownership unbundling of transmission infrastructure from generation and supply assets, and of creating a fully-fledged European energy regulator.
Bid to close Enron loophole
Legislation aimed at preventing price manipulation and excessive speculation in energy markets has been introduced to the US Senate
TXU shareholders agree to $45 billion buyout
TXU shareholders have approved a merger agreement with Texas Energy Future Holdings Limited Partnership (TEF), which was formed by a group of investors led by private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Texas Pacific Group.
Barcap increases commodities appetite
Investment bank Barclays Capital has sharply increased its appetite for risk-taking in the first half of 2007, with all the new risk being taken in the commodities segment, according to Barcap reports.
“Enron Loophole” will soon be closed: Levin
Senator Carl Levin, who chairs the US Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, has said that he will soon introduce legislation that will increase regulatory scrutiny of the over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
Trading begins on Prague Energy Exchange
The Prague Energy Exchange (PXE), a platform for trading electricity in the Czech Republic, launched successfully at 9am CET this morning, with ten participants trading physically delivered futures contracts dated monthly for the remainder of 2007.
Nymex calls for full ICE regulation
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) has called for full regulation of its Atlanta-based rival IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) following a federal report which said that the current jurisdiction of federal regulators is not wide-ranging enough.
EDF Trading moves into biomass market
EDF Trading, the subsidiary of utility EDF responsible for wholesale market activity, has acquired biomass company Renewable Fuel Supply Limited (RFSL).
Amaranth report to ring changes
Release of report into collapse of energy hedge fund Amaranth Advisors looks set to change the way OTC markets operate in the US
Full steam ahead for FFAs
The freight derivatives market has attracted an influx of new players recently thanks to the spread of clearing. With more banks and hedge funds poised to enter, Roderick Bruce looks at what opportunities the market offers and how it needs to develop next
Up in the air
Rising wind power prices are encouraging US producers to turn to the short-term and spot electricity markets. Increasingly sophisticated risk management techniques may follow. David Watkins reports
Amaranth trades “altered natural gas prices.”
Energy hedge fund Amaranth Advisors exploited legal loopholes and altered natural gas prices through “excessive speculation” before its 2006 implosion, a US senate investigation has found.
FOA launches UK power market initiative
The Futures and Options Association (FOA) has launched an initiative that aims to introduce a new design for wholesale UK power markets.
ECX and ICE launch CER futures contract
The European Climate Exchange (ECX) and ICE Futures today announced the launch of CER (certified emissions reduction) futures and options contracts, subject to regulatory approval.
ETG Capital opens energy hedge fund
Houston-based hedge fund firm ETG Capital Management has launched an energy fund.
SSY brokers groundbreaking FFA option deal
SSY Futures has recently brokered a forward freight agreement (FFA) option transaction covering Panamax earnings out to the end of 2012. The deal, fixed between two leading FFA users, has confirmed industry claims that there is appetite for longer-dated…