Technology
Coping with setbacks
Most risk managers and employees in energy companies are familiar with the concepts of market risk and credit risk, but operational risk is receiving more attention in corporate boardrooms these days, writes Sandy Fielden
New GlobalView head makes u-turns on hubs
Contrary to reports in September, new GlobalView chief Steve Gott says he remains committed to the Energy Data Hub and ConfirmHub ventures. Following a management overhaul, it seems it is business as usual
US physical clearing firm gets credit support from CSFB
Investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston is to provide credit support for North American Energy Credit and Clearing’s (NECC’s) services in physical energy markets.
In pole position
Sakonnet’s Thurstan Bannister says a sound footing in risk management and a customer-facing approach is the secret of his company’s success. By Stella Farrington
Belgian power exchange to launch early 2006
The Belgian day-ahead electricity market is due to start in early 2006 on the Belgian power exchange (Belpex) in a link-up with Dutch power exchange APX and French energy exchange Powernext. This is the first time three power exchanges will be linked…
The technology trap
Large banks are increasingly looking to energy trading to improve liquidity and develop relationships with large institutional and industrial clients. James Kemp looks at some of the technological challenges they face
Checking outside the box
Companies often use checklists to evaluate their IT buying requirements. But these rarely address what the firm actually needs. Brett Humphreys discusses how over-reliance on checklists may lead to poor software buying decisions
Making a connection
Addressing both sophisticated multi-asset trading and physical asset optimisation – while complying with stringent new regulation – are challenges few software firms claim to have the entire solution to. Oliver Holtaway reports
Trayport connects with IPE
London-based trading systems provider Trayport has entered into an independent software vendor partnership with London’s International Petroleum Exchange.
Buyer beware
Risk-management software development is still struggling to recover from slashed budgets after the Enron debacle. So before choosing a new system, buyers should look closely at five critical areas, writes Salim Jabbour
The vendors’view
Energy software vendors are the first to admit they suffered financially fromthedownturn in the markets, but most stress they’ve developed innovative solutionsdespite the slump. Energy Risk put Salim Jabbour’s concerns to vendors
All bases covered
In 1997, Norwegian energy firm Statoil implemented an enterprise-wide risk management system with the help of Goldman Sachs. Eight years on, few energy companies can rival its approach. Joe Marsh discovers why
Turbulent times
The new Renewable Sources Act obliges German utility companies to buy all the wind power generated in the country on any one day. And it is adding a new volatility to the German power market. By Stella Farrington