Despite climate risks, utilities bet big on natural gas?
Coal plants are being retired due to regulatory compliance with existing and new Clean Power laws.
Wind and solar projects are being installed on an increasingly utility scale (meaning very large); such renewable power is expected to grow to over 20% of the U.S.’s power needs by 2030 (currently around 6%). In one case, renewables are replacing the power from a retired nuclear power plants.
However, utilities are making substantial investments in natural gas pipeline projects. These projects are expanding the supply of natural gas for use in large power projects.
Concerns are mounting for these investments from two opposite sides:
- Environmentalists will illustrate that the proposed gas power generation will prevent the U.S. from meeting its commitment to reduce greenhouse gases.
- Investors are concerned, as is the case for coal projects, that these gas pipeline investments may be stranded (not fully repaid) if environmental regulations are fully implemented.
So the utility planners are hedging their bets. Natural gas is currently abundant and for highly reliable power production it is cost effective. However, if greenhouse emissions become an economic reality, this planning might lead to not only stranded costs but additional global warming.
With such conflicting interests utilities, markets and regulators need clean Energy Policy from the US Federal Government.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan 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.
Additional Information:
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,600 Bcf as of Friday, September 23, 2016, according to EIA estimates. This represents a net increase of 49 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 90 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 220 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,380 Bcf. At 3,600 Bcf, total working gas is above the five-year historical range.
Estimated Injection 54 Bcf
Vs
Actual Injection 49 Bcf
Survey expects stocks to grow by 54 Bcf The US Energy Information Administration will estimate a 54-Bcf injection to natural gas in underground storage for the reporting week that ended September 23, according to a consensus of analysts surveyed by Platts. The EIA plans to release its weekly storage report at 10:30 am EDT Thursday. The expected injection would be just over half of the 99-Bcf build reported at this time in 2015 as well as the five-year average injection, which is 97 Bcf, according to EIA data. The below-average build would mark the 21st consecutive week the injection was significantly less than the five-year historical average and the year prior. An injection of that volume would also continue to shrink the storage surplus. Analysts’ estimates in the survey ranged from an injection of 46 Bcf to 65 Bcf. An injection within analysts’ expectations of 54 Bcf would grow stocks to 3.605 Tcf, 225 Bcf more than the five-year average and 95 Bcf more than the corresponding week last year. It would also pull stocks within 16 Bcf of the five-year maximum level.
More protections coming when you sign up for an electric offer?
The Illinois Commerce Commission (the regulators overseeing consumer protection in Illinois) has issued a first notice that if enacted would offer additional regulatory safeguards to customers selecting a retail energy provider.
Sales conducted in-person such as door to door sales, multilevel marketing and any signing up at a kiosk (say at a fair or church group), would require the energy representative to complete all the following:
- Identification: wear credentials showing picture, full name and company logo
- Criminal background check: completed by a third party (doesn’t disqualify if positive)
- Third party verification of the customer’s enrollment decision (not just a signed agreement but a recording of the customer authorizing the enrollment)
Every alternative retail energy supplier (ARES) in Illinois is required to be authorized by the ICC. Further, every ARES is subject to losing their authorization if their conduct is fraudulent, misleading or abusive.
The ICC is the agency that receives and addresses complaints from consumers. Apparently, they believe there is a need for such new rules. However, it seems unclear to me whether these changes offer new protections. It’s apparent to me that if customers are being enrolled under misleading, fraudulent or abusive tactics then the ICC has the authority to end such practices today.
Realgy is in compliant with current rules and will review any final rule to ensure we stay such.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan 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.
Additional Information:
ComEd supports Green Energy and Competition…until they don’t.
Sounds political right; I am for it until I am against it.
A transmission line that would carry wind energy from the Midwest into Illinois, 3,500 megawatts or enough power for 1,600,000 homes, was rejected by the Appeals Court of Illinois after ComEd sided against the transmission line.
At stake is ComEd’s monopoly on transmission in their service territory.
ComEd used its standing in Illinois to appeal a decision by the Illinois Commerce Commission though the court. The appeal court’s ruling is confusing and should be reversed by the State Supreme Court. However, it exposed ComEd empty rhetoric of supporting customer choice and green energy….that is until it would be built in their backyard.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan 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.
Additional Information:
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,350 Bcf as of Friday, August 19, 2016, according to EIA estimates. This represents a net increase of 11 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 275 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 350 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,000 Bcf. At 3,350 Bcf, total working gas is above the five-year historical range.
Estimated Injection 18 Bcf.
Vs
Actual Injection 11 Bcf.
The US Energy Information Administration on Thursday will estimate a natural gas storage injection of about 18 Bcf for the reporting week ended August 19, according to a consensus of analysts surveyed by S&P Global Platts. The EIA plans to announce its storage report at 10:30 am EDT Thursday. The expected injection would be less than the 66-Bcf build reported at this time in 2015 and the 63-Bcf five-year average increase, according to EIA data. Analysts’ estimates in the survey ranged from 10 Bcf to 24 Bcf.
What is Energy Choice?
Should a simply question not have a simple answer. Why is the sky blue? How does electricity get to the outlet?
We live in a market driven society but the idea of shopping for energy suppliers can seem baffling.
Answers can illuminate complex relationships, convey a simplified understanding or seek to explain the purpose.
So why do we have energy choice? Let’s look at 3 such answers:
- Regulating the monopoly utility for energy purchases was shown to be more costly (customers could save money)
- It allowed market conditions to set the price, as in supply and demand
- Energy Choice created new businesses and offered customers new energy purchasing options
Of course the bottom line in Energy Choice:
SUPPLIER: Obtains sources of energy for you
UTILITY: Delivers your energy to you
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan 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.
Additional Information: