$8.3 Billion Proposal for Addressing Texas Blackouts
Berkshire Hathaway is a public company that owns several utilities. Their proposal illustrates the difference between a company taking risks versus a utility.
Berkshire is proposing the Texas Grid operator (utility oversight company) build a gas-fired power plant that would be weather normalized and fixed to support a large portion of Texas’ energy demands. Berkshire is proposing to spend $8.3 billion to build this plant.
The cost: Berkshire would earn what a Texas utility earns on investments which is 9.3%.
So, Berkshire like any utility in Texas that receives regulatory approval, earns a return regardless of whether what they build works.
Berkshire as a public company takes risks building and operating businesses such as Dairy Queen, Burlington Northern Railroad, or Sherwin-Williams. Any investment in these businesses comes with no guaranteed return.
EVERY utility makes money by spending money to provide service. The Texas Grid operator will undoubtedly not accept this proposal but, it does show the difference between private businesses and utilities.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. 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 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/buffett-s-berkshire-floats-8-3-billion-fix-for-texas-grid/ar-BB1eXRHl?ocid=spartan-ntp-feeds
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 1,746 Bcf as of Friday, March 19, 2021, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net decrease of 36 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 263 Bcf less than last year at this time and 78 Bcf below the five-year average of 1,824 Bcf. At 1,746 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 1,782 Bcf as of Friday, March 12, 2021, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net decrease of 11 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 253 Bcf less than last year at this time and 93 Bcf below the five-year average of 1,875 Bcf. At 1,782 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
