DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,695 Bcf as of Friday, October 25, 2019, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net increase of 89 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 559 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 52 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,643 Bcf. At 3,695 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
Michigan energy regulators aim to prioritize ‘action’ over ‘fancy reports’
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently launched the MI Power Grid. The initiative is to adapt to changes brought on by increased use of renewable resources. Plans for the next year concentrate on customer engagement, emerging technology, and grid investments. Integrating interconnection rules, demand response, grid security and reliability, and pilot programs are part of the focus while engaging Michigan customers to participate. The MPSC is adamant that they aren’t just discussing change but, actually making sure advancements are made.
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://energynews.us/2019/10/28/midwest/michigan-energy-regulators-aim-to-prioritize-action-over-fancy-reports/
PacifiCorp to add 7 GW renewables + storage, close 20 of 24 coal plants
One of the largest utilities in the US, PacifiCorp will shut down 20 of their 24 coal plants and replace them with 7,000 MW of renewable generation.
This is a common story.
Renewable energy is LESS expensive than CONTINUING the operation of coal fired generation.
PacifiCorp is making these plans public and will be enacting them between 2025-2038.
The reason for the slow progress is this change requires 800 miles of transmission and the construction of wind, solar, and battery backup in the following 4 states.
New solar and storage resources include:
- Utah: 3,000 MW solar with 635 MW of battery storage capacity, between 2020 and 2037
- Wyoming: 1,415 MW solar with 354 MW of battery storage capacity, between 2024 and 2038
- Oregon: 1,075 MW solar with 244 MW of battery storage capacity, between 2020 and 2033
- Washington: 814 MW solar with 204 MW of battery storage capacity, between 2024 and 2036.
…and yes, all of this costs LESS than keeping the existing coal plants operating!
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.utilitydive.com/news/pacificorp-to-add-7-gw-renewables-storage-close-20-of-24-coal-plants/564299/
DOE must implement 4 long-delayed efficiency standards, 9th Circuit Rules
Imagine the ability to save $8.4 billion and the US Government won’t.
You might think:
- Company conspiracies preventing action
- Bureaucracy issue
- Politics
Well, the answer is 3.
The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) sued the US Department of Energy (DOE) to FORCE them to release new standards to cover electric equipment.
The story is that when Trump was elected, he froze all new regulations. Caught up in those were these updates to the Energy Policy Act.
Technology advances improved and the DOE needed to update these standards. The NRDC did all Americans a service to reduce energy consumption and save us money.
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.utilitydive.com/news/doe-must-implement-4-long-delayed-efficiency-standards-9th-circuit-rules/564809/
Micro Power Grids Emerge as Way to Keep Electricity on During Shutoffs
California residents recently underwent massive blackouts due to PG&E’s decision to shut down power in hopes to decrease the wildfire risk. Hundreds of thousands were left without power for days. However, Fremont, CA installed “a microgrid, a small, self-contained electrical system, around a fire station”. Using solar panels, batteries and a generator, they can operate independently and focus on public safety. These microgrids are better for the environment, save customers money on energy bills, and provide safety nets for many that require electricity. The CA Public Utility Commission is exploring similar projects to see how these technologies could be implemented, especially for blackout situations.
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.kqed.org/science/1948951/micro-power-grids-emerging-as-a-way-to-keep-power-on-during-shutoffs
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,519 Bcf as of Friday, October 11, 2019, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net increase of 104 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 494 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 14 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,505 Bcf. At 3,519 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
Trader Abbie – Natural Gas
The NYMEX front-month natural gas contract settled slightly lower on Wednesday as the market juggled colder weather forecasts and excess supply.
The front-month contract fell 3.6 cents to settle at $2.349/MMBtu, trading within a range of $2.293-$2.384/MMBtu.
“[Natural gas] continues to bounce off the $2.20[/MMBtu] level and is seeing some resistance coming up at the $2.40[/MMBtu] level. Talks of colder weather in the Midwest are giving it a little bit of a lift.”
According to a survey conducted by S&P Global Platts, storage inventories are expected to increase to 108 Bcf for the week ending October 10. This injection sits 27 Bcf above the yearly average of 81 Bcf and sits 26 Bcf above the storage injection level at this time last year.
The most recent 8 to 14-day weather outlook from the National Weather Service calls for a likelihood of warmer-than-average temperatures in the Southwest and parts of the Northeast, with a likelihood of cooler-than-average temperatures in the Midcontinent, Southeast, parts of the Northeast, and Texas.
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.
More wind, solar and storage could add up to savings for Midwesterners
Do you want to pay less for energy used to run all your electronics? What’s keeping costs high? Would you believe it’s the use of coal, oil and natural gas?
In the Midwest and Great Lakes area, the cost of electricity could decrease by over $48/year for the average residential customer. How? By eliminating the way electricity is priced at the wholesale level.
When oil, coal and nuclear energy were the primary fuel sources, payments for energy were based on the ability to deliver energy quickly. This meant the large fossil fuel plants had to be kept in a ready-to-generate mode.
Today’s wind and solar energy are kept in a ready state without any fuel costs. So, transferring to wind and solar while not paying fossil fuel plants to stay ready would result in large and sustainable cost reductions.
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.renewableenergyworld.com/2019/10/02/report-more-wind-solar-and-storage-could-add-up-to-savings-for-midwesterners/#gref
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,415 Bcf as of Friday, October 4, 2019, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net increase of 98 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 472 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 9 Bcf below the five-year average of 3,424 Bcf. At 3,415 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
NICOR is spending $168 million; increasing your monthly bill.
Just as a chill returns, NICOR plans to increase your heating costs.
NICOR, the largest gas utility in Illinois, asked for $180 million which was reduced in a 3-2 vote by commissioners. Still, the increase is expected to raise every residential customer’s bill by over $3/ month.
This increase is on the distribution side of the bill for the delivery of gas through their pipes. The Illinois Customer Choice Program still offers consumers direct pricing from energy suppliers. Realgy publishes our price compared to NICOR every month; resulting in nearly 5% savings over the last 12 months which is typically between 4-8% monthly. This is about an $85 savings for an average residential customer.
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.chicagobusiness.com/utilities/nicors-168-million-rate-hike-will-cost-typical-household-3-plus-month