Technology
Germany’s closed shop
Despite six years of liberalisation, Germany’s gas market is still virtually closed to outside competition. Writing from Germany, Stella Farrington looks at whether new regulation is finally about to bring change
Midwest power market to start on April 1
The US energy market regulator yesterday gave the Midwest Independent System Operator (Miso) the go-ahead to launch its wholesale energy market on April 1, after several delays.
Hanging on at the top
This year’s User Choice Awards demonstrate that quality counts. In a fast-changing market, the top vendors and packages have managed to stay ahead of the pack. But the winners cannot rest easy. With IT budgets deflated, it’s a competitive market, and…
Spectron to launch LPG web-trading platform
UK energy broker Spectron will launch an online trading platform for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on Tuesday (February 22). Spectron said the screen will be the first to allow the trading of LPG in both the east and west, as outrights or spreads, and…
OpenLink may launch web-based version of Endur
OpenLink may launch a web-based version of Endur, its energy trading and risk management system, according to Matt Frye, Houston-based managing director of the software company.
Caught short
Given the difficulty China Aviation Oil is having closing its remaining illiquid positions, its derivative trading losses may be greater than first thought. James Ockenden and Stella Farrington report
Calpine trades up
US power company Calpine installed a new trading floor this year due both to its own growth and its aim to provide more companies with energy services. Joe Marsh reports
DTE Energy Trading opts for Amerex STP solution
DTE Energy Trading, a subsidiary of Detroit-based DTE Energy, has implemented Amerex Energy’s straight-through processing (STP) product, Xcheck - a web-based trade confirmation system that replaces the manual process of generating, transmitting and…
SunGard acquires ASP pioneer Kiodex
SunGard has acquired New York based Kiodex, a supplier of web-based risk management, financial reporting, FAS 133 compliance and market data solutions for companies exposed to commodity price risk.
User Choice winners revealed
Energy Risk's first User Choice Awards have been a tremendous success, with over 450 valid votes showing which vendors and data providers are the preferred suppliers to the energy industry in 2004.
Looking to the east
Can power market operators in the new EU member states in eastern Europe gainthe liquidity they need to challenge either bilateral electricity contracts orthe established exchanges? Joe Marsh reports
Technology upload
There has been a recent upswing in the fortunes of energy risk software industry. And that is reflected in this year’s expanded technology vendor guide, making it the definitive guide to energy software and technology available
The troubleshooter
After struggling for a year with a difficult Triple Point installation, US energycompany Cinergy brought in energy IT veteran Joel McKnight. Nine months on, implementationand integration is complete. By Joe Marsh
King of convenience
The need for Sarbanes-Oxley certification has boosted sales of internet servicerisk systems, says web pioneer Martin Chavez of Kiodex. By James Ockenden
ABN to offer centralised power and gas clearing platform
Dutch bank ABN Amro today said it’s energy futures division is developing a platform to provide centralised over-the-counter (OTC) clearing for natural gas and power contracts at six European energy exchanges – UKPX, EEX, Endex, Powernext, IPE and…
The waiting game
The Italian power market has finally opened to competition, but how long willenergy users have to wait until they can trade on the new electricity exchange? Joe Marsh reports
Taking the slow road
Recent developments suggest that clearing is likely to gain widespread acceptance in the European energy market. Market participants feel it is a question of how and when – not if – robust, liquid solutions will emerge. By Joe Marsh
Bouncing back
Business may be sluggish in the energy sector, but energy risk technology companiesare adapting to the tough market environment and proving their resilience, evenif that means partnering with rivals. By Paul Lyon
The future of ETRM
As generation, trading and retailing companies come out from under the dark cloud to prepare for what looks to be a brighter future, one issue has become critical – the need to upgrade outdated ETRM systems with 21st century architecture, portfolio…
A dark futurefor clearing
Clearing was the energy buzz word of early 2003. But as Clearing Bank Hannover goes into liquidation and the future of EnergyClear’s business remains uncertain, it seems energy clearing has lost its appeal. By Paul Lyon
Getting it together
Data consolidation is now a vital foundation to any successful risk management implementation, as Dave Rose and Stuart Cook of The Structure Group report
System-ready for Sarbanes-Oxley
Energy companies are not alone in having to review their operations to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Energy software suppliers, too, are looking at their systems, although most are confident they are already well prepared, finds Clive Davidson
Keeping up with the markets
The power trading sector has changed substantially in the past 12 months. Have trading and risk management software vendors kept pace? Kevin Foster reports
Avoiding STP failure
Entertaining as a Matrix-style spectre of a world governed by computers might be, for many involved in planning straight-through processing, seamless computing is the goal that every organisation should be trying to achieve, says Trayport’s Elliot Piggot