How The Electric System Can be Gamed
Ever get the choice you think sounds reasonable? For example, here is the new car you wanted. Only to find out it’s not new; it’s a lease, and you owe $1,500 / month in insurance.
So it is with the energy system.
Background. Utilities are monopolies in that only they can deliver power within their franchise territory.
ISO (independent system operators) act as the wholesale market. In their territory, they control which power plants are interconnected and pay for their power.
FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) they are responsible for having a national view (think for the Country). Ensuring the power markets work without unfair competition by ISO, utility, or state regulators.
The choice. Fast-track any “shovel ready” utility fossil fuel power project and grant interconnect approval within 90 days.
MISO’s proposal to alleviate real congestion, and seasonal demands (cold and heat) would authorize only utilities to receive approval for new power projects.
The decision. No from FERC.
MISO (an ISO), which oversees the electric grid across a large portion of the Midwest, is not alone in facing a clogged interconnection process that’s preventing it from swiftly adding new generation to replace coal and keep up with demand. FERC rejected the organization’s plan to address it by fast-tracking new gas plants, marking a win for clean energy advocates.
Some Reality.
The reality is that MISO has 100s of gigawatts of power projects in the queue awaiting approval. The difference is these are NOT utility-owned and are primarily fueled by solar, wind, and battery installations.
FERC saw this effort to address a real problem as an end-run around “reasonably balanced” options. The existing queue of power projects earned their spot by being economically better than alternatives, situated in needed areas, and financially capable of being built and operated without consumer impact.
Sometimes the solution is taking advantage of the problem.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed, and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Realgy Announces Continued Savings for Ameren Customers
Realgy Announces Continued Savings for Ameren Customers
May 13, 2025 – Realgy, LLC is pleased to announce that despite no change in Ameren’s utility pricing since February 2025, Realgy will now deliver over 4.4% in savings for commercial customers.
Realgy has published a revised ManagedPrice™ rate of 8.64¢/kWh, allowing commercial clients to benefit from meaningful cost reductions without any corresponding change from Ameren’s standard rate.
Ameren’s next expected price adjustment is scheduled for after May 2025, according to their published tariff. Until then, Realgy’s pricing strategy will continue to provide measurable benefits to its commercial customer base.
ManagedPrice™ is Realgy Energy Services’ exclusive program where all customers in a buying pool receive the same price. Realgy will make purchasing decisions on behalf of the pool participants to provide a low cost of natural gas or electricity while reducing the negative effects of market volatility.
For more information on Realgy’s ManagedPrice™ and how your business can take advantage of competitive energy pricing, visit www.realgy.com or contact us at 860-233-2270.
Realgy Announces Continued Savings for MEC Customers
Realgy Announces Continued Savings for MEC Customers
May 13, 2025 – Realgy, LLC is pleased to announce that Realgy will now deliver over 6% in savings for commercial customers compared to the earlier April rate.
This improvement in customer savings is driven by a reduction in Realgy’s costs at MISO. As a result, Realgy has published a revised ManagedPrice™ rate of 6.11¢/kWh, allowing commercial clients to benefit from meaningful cost reductions.
ManagedPrice™ is Realgy Energy Services’ exclusive program where all customers in a buying pool receive the same price. Realgy will make purchasing decisions on behalf of the pool participants to provide a low cost of natural gas or electricity while reducing the negative effects of market volatility.
For more information on Realgy’s ManagedPrice™ and how your business can take advantage of competitive energy pricing, visit www.realgy.com or contact us at 860-233-2270.
Illinois Solar Farms – Clearway Community Solar
Illinois Solar Farms – Clearway Community Solar
Whether federal laws overrule state laws or state laws overrule local laws, it’s always a case of who’s interest is heard.
Consider Illinois state siting laws over power plants in particular solar.
Solar farms are the concentration of ground-mounted solar panels that can cover large fields; 10-100 acres.
Illinois siting laws govern the permitting and siting of critical infrastructure such as wastewater, landfills, mining, and power plants. For such critical infrastructure, local zoning and siting are not primary, meaning that the needs of the state and state laws determine the final approval.
Recently, local county officials have reacted to the sitting of solar farms as some residents object to their use of farmland. County officials can pass resolutions requesting the state to rescind laws governing critical infrastructure however, most officials recognize the futility;
“We can send resolutions from here to the end of time and it’s not going to change the situation,
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer service plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing directly to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed, and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 1,773 Bcf as of Friday, March 28, 2025, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net increase of 29 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 491 Bcf less than last year at this time and 80 Bcf below the five-year average of 1,853 Bcf. At 1,773 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
Build 1,500 Homes with the Energy Needs of 500.
How do you build 1,500 homes and only add the energy demand of 500 homes?
Drill the hole first!
A ground-source heat pump uses electricity to exchange heat or cooling with the ground, unlike its more common cousin, the air-source heat pump, which exchanges heat to the surrounding air.
Drilling into the ground taps into an average temperature of 54 degrees. Using the ground temperature means that maintaining your home at 72 degrees year-round is a difference in temperature of 18 degrees whether heating or cooling. This temperature difference means it requires about 1/3 of the energy of a more typical heating and air-conditioned home.
The efficiency gain, however, cannot be easily retrofitted because it involves digging a deep hole in residential neighborhoods. That’s why air-cooled heat pumps provide about 13% of all homes while ground sources only 1%.
Beyond the efficiency gain, installing ground-based heat pumps simplifies construction. No gas or oil lines are needed for heating and no upgrade for electric service.
Utility companies and home builders are teaming up to plan new housing developments that incorporate ground-based heat pumps.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer service plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing directly to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed, and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.