Storage Season is here!
The natural gas you have stored starting April 1st running through October 31st will begin to be added into your monthly natural gas usage from November 1st through March 31st.
You have probably noticed your summer bills were a little higher than normal, this is because Realgy Energy Services has been storing 20% of your natural gas annual usage at the lower summer rates, to be used during the winter months when the demand and more importantly the pricing for natural gas historically increase.
You may be asking do I have natural gas in storage, and if so how much?
If you are a customer of Realgy Energy Services and you live in Indiana or Illinois and are services by one of the following Utilities: Nicor, Nipsco, North Shore and Peoples Gas.
You most likely have natural gas in storage.
To find out how much natural gas you have in storage you can either:
Log into your account and view your account summary
Call one of our customer services representatives at (877) 300 6747
Enjoy the saving that the Realgy Energy Services Storage Program provides and have a wonderful toasty warm winter!
Can locomotives run on natural gas?
That is the ground-breaking question Canadian National Railway is hoping to answer by retrofitting the diesel engines in two 3,000-horsepower Electro-Motive Diesel SD40-2 locomotives to run on natural gas.
Two natural gas-fired locomotives courtesy of Canadian National Railway Handout
These two locomotives will not be fueled solely by natural gas but by a mix of 90 per cent natural gas and 10 per cent diesel fuel for ignition. The natural gas retrofit seems like a logical step for the railway industry as roughly 25 percent of crude and natural gas from shale deposits is currently carried by train. Not to mention all the drilling materials, construction equipment and machinery that are also moved by the railways.
Canadian National is testing the two locomotives along the 298-mile stretch between Edmonton, a natural gas pipeline hub, and Fort McMurray, an oilsands production site.
“CN launched this locomotive test to explore the use of natural gas as a potential alternative to conventional diesel fuel. This reflects CN’s continuing drive to look for ways to improve operating efficiency and advance the company’s sustainability agenda,” said Keith Creel, executive vice-president and chief operating officer.
Two natural gas-fired locomotives courtesy of Canadian National Railway Handout
Switching to natural gas will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 per cent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 70 per cent over a locomotive duty cycle.
Canadian National is also working on a longer-term project to develop an all-new natural gas locomotive engine as well as a specialized tank car to carry the fuel.
Sources:
Canadian National, Press Release, CN tests natural gas/diesel fuel powered locomotives between Edmonton and Fort McMurray, Alta.
National Post, Canada, Natural gas-powered locomotive drives CN into eco-friendly(er) future
Energy & Capital, Natural Gas Engines for Trains
Realgy Energy Services Now Offering Natural Gas Services to Residential Illinois Customers
PRESS RELEASE 21 SEPTEMBER 2012 | By: Realgy, LLC
At their customers’ request Realgy Energy Services is now serving Illinois residential natural gas customers.
The president of Realgy, Michael Vrtis has announced that the Illinois Commerce Commission has given authorization to extend service to residential customers in the North Shore, Peoples, and Nicor service territories. Realgy was previously authorized to service only retail commercial natural gas accounts in Illinois.
“Our expansion into the residential natural gas market is the next logical step in Realgy’s plans to expand service to our customers in the Illinois energy market,” said Vrtis. “It’s the perfect complement to extend our existing Illinois electric service. This expansion will give all residential and commercial customers in Illinois a chance to save money on both their natural gas and electricity.”
Realgy Energy Services is an energy marketer serving retail and residential customers in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. They have been serving Illinois customers beginning in 2004; since that time they have had a perfect record (certified A+) with the Better Business Bureau; and have been recognized as an Inc 500 company in 2011 and 2012.
Contact:
Realgy, LLC
Michael Vrtis
675 Oakwood Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
Realgy Energy Services has been approved to serve Illinois electric and natural gas commercial and residential markets
At the request of our current Electric and Natural Gas customers Realgy has sought and received approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission to expand our services in the Illinois energy markets.
“This is the next logical step in Realgy’s plan to expand in the Illinois energy market and is the perfect complement to our existing gas services in the Nicor, Peoples, and North Shore markets,” stated Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy.
The Realgy Energy Services Illinois electric service area now includes both commercial and residential customers in Commonwealth Edison, Ameren Illinois, MidAmerican Energy and Mt. Carmel Public Utility. Realgy was previously only approved to serve commercial Commonwealth Edison customers.
The Illinois natural gas service area now includes both commercial and residential customers in Nicor, Peoples Gas, and North Shore. Realgy was previously only approved to serve commercial Nicor, Peoples Gas, and North Shore customers.
If you would like to enroll a residential or commercial account in any of these service areas, contact a Realgy Energy Services Energy Broker, at (877)-300 -6747 X 32 and have your bills ready.
For the full press release please visit the Realgy Energy Services Blog Press Release: Realgy Energy Services Now Offering Electricity Services to all Illinois Customers and Press Release: Realgy Energy Services Now Offering Natural Gas Services to all Illinois Customers
PriceWatch™ and Natural Gas Storage Season
It is that time of the year when Realgy Energy Services starts to send out our PriceWatch™ emails; look for it in your email anytime from October to November. Supplies of natural gas in storage begin to be applied to your monthly natural gas usage starting November 1st.
PriceWatch™ monitors the natural gas market to pin-point the most advantageous time for our natural gas customers to lock in a rate for the winter heating months.
Realgy will only send out a PriceWatch™ email if we can lock our customers in at a rate that will save them money. If you would like more information on PriceWatch™, please visit our blog post What is PriceWatch™?
Natural Gas Storage is the service of purchasing a percentage of your annual gas usage during the summer months and storing it. This stored gas is then delivered to you during the winter months. That is why we call it “winter gas at summer prices.”
Realgy offers this storage program whenever we can. If your utility allows Realgy to offer a storage program, it will be listed in our Service Plan table on our website realgyenergyservices.com.
For more information on the Natural Gas Storage program please visit our blog posts: Natural Gas Storage Season is Here and So What Exactly is Natural Gas Storage
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact a Realgy Energy Services Customer Service Representative by phone (877)-300-6747, by email support@realgy.com, by fax (860)-233 -3884, or by mail 675 Oakwood Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110.
Realgy Energy Services is now a BP Preferred Energy Supplier
PRESS RELEASE 1 September 2012 | By: Realgy, LLC
British Petroleum (BP) will be the primary supply of Realgy Energy Services natural gas and electricity.
The president of Realgy, Michael Vrtis and the VP of Operations Doug Gugino, have announced that Realgy Energy Services has become a BP preferred supplier. This means that BP will become Realgy’s primary supplier of natural gas and electricity allowing Realgy to expand their pricing offers for existing and new customers. Entry into new markets will also be accelerated to better serve customers.
“Doug and I are very pleased to announce that Realgy has become a preferred supplier with BP,” said Vrtis “Becoming a preferred supplier to BP allows Realgy to join a very limited group. This offer was only made possible due to the work laid down in establishing Realgy, and will only be maintained by the decisions we make every day in providing service for our customers.”
BP is an international company with many subsidiaries, Realgy works closely with BP North America and BP Canada. BP is one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies, providing fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services and petrochemical products for everyday items.
Realgy, LLC DBA Realgy Energy Services was founded in 1999 by individuals who worked for many years with large utilities, energy service companies and energy marketers. Within these organizations they saw the limitations of the systems and software. Today Realgy Energy Services is an energy supplier in three deregulated states Michigan, Indiana and Illinois with plans to expand.
Contact: Realgy, LLC Michael Vrtis 675 Oakwood Avenue West Hartford, CT 860-233-2270 www.realgyenergyservices.com
Inc. Magazine has Unveiled Its Annual Exclusive List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies – The Inc.500|5000
PRESS RELEASE August 28, 2012 | By: Realgy, LLC
Realgy Energy Services Ranks No. 180 on the 2012 Inc. 500|5000
Inc. magazine has ranked Realgy Energy Services No. 180 on its sixth annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the fastest growing private companies. This list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy – American’s independent entrepreneurs. Realgy joins Yelp, yogurt maker Chobani, Giftcards.com, KIND and famed hat maker Tilly’s, among other prominent brands featured on this year’s list.
“I am honored to see Realgy featured on the Inc. 500|5000 list for the second year.” says Michael Vrtis, President, “I would like to thank our vendors for allowing us to focus on our customers, the state of Connecticut for promoting small businesses and our employees for helping us to provide excellence in energy marketing.”
In a stagnant economic environment, median growth rate of 2012 Inc. 500|5000 companies remains an impressive 97 percent. Over the past three years Realgy has grown 1,919%, and is ranked 11th out of 103 companies in the energy industry. The companies on this year’s list report having created over 400,000 jobs in the past three years, and aggregate revenue among the honorees reached $299 billion. By comparison Realgy has created eight full time positions in Connecticut in the last six months, and had revenue of $32.3 Million in 2011.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/5000.
“Now, more than ever, we depend on Inc. 500/5000 companies to spur innovation, provide jobs, and drive the economy forward. Growth companies, not large corporations, are where the action is,” says Inc. Editor Eric Schurenberg.
Realgy, LLC DBA Realgy Energy Services was founded in 1999 by individuals who worked for many years with large utilities, energy service companies and energy marketers. Within these organizations they saw the limitations of the systems and software. Today Realgy Energy Services is an energy supplier in three deregulated states Michigan, Indiana and Illinois with plans to expand.
Contact: Realgy, LLC Michael Vrtis 675 Oakwood Avenue West Hartford, CT 860-233-2270 www.realgyenergyservices.comIn response to “Natural Gas Increases are Diminishing Carbon Emissions”
Written by Michael Vrtis President of Realgy Energy Services in response to the EnergyBiz article “Natural Gas Increases are Diminishing Carbon Emissions”
The use of natural gas is decreasing carbon emission which in turn is decreasing the contribution of the US to global warming.
U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions in early 2012 lowest since 1992 – courtesy of EIA
Since 2007 it’s over a 10% decrease. The abundance of natural gas is decreasing the price the US pays and is reducing the impact of our emissions. This trend will continue.
Although all fuels contribute, natural gas being the cleanest fossil fuel contributes the least.
Check out the EnergyBiz article: “Natural Gas Increases are Diminishing Carbon Emissions”
In Response to “Natural Gas a Raging Bull in Its Battle With Coal”
Written by Michael Vrtis President of Realgy Energy Services in response to the CNBC article “Natural Gas a Raging Bull in Its Battle With Coal”
The thinking has always been that the US will lead in coal use as we have the largest supply in the world. In our history, coal has contributed no less than 50% of our total electrical energy needs.
Today with the technology of “fracking” the US has discovered an abundance of recoverable natural gas. So much so that US natural gas prices are nearly $2.00 less than the average world price for natural gas (this is a huge economic advantage when you consider our cost for natural gas is about $3.00).
So abundant natural gas drives the cost lower, and so with the lower cost and long term supply natural gas takes market shares from its closest rival; coal. The benefits of this economic decision have environmental benefits.
All sounds great right?
Diversity in our generation supply (a mix of natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, wave, etc) makes our electric supply gird stronger and more competitive. Consider if we had discovered this natural gas field and had not developed the technology to generate electricity from it more efficiently.
Nothing last forever; while 100 year supply sounds great. Its only one lifetime! This is where US Energy Policy has to step forward. The US should continue to invest in new technology that will not let us deplete the natural gas richness of this country and leave our children more dependent on electric energy without developing a replacement.
Check out the CNBC article: “Natural Gas a Raging Bull in Its Battle With Coal”
In Response to “Frenemies—Why Solar and Natural Gas Will Be Central to US Energy Policy”
Written by Michael Vrtis President of Realgy Energy Services in response to the Green Tech article “Frenemies—Why Solar and Natural Gas Will Be Central to US Energy Policy”
The article provides a good sense of history and assessment of our demand for electricity. This article is clear that natural gas can and is used for the production of peaking electricity (electricity used during 9Am-5PM) which is exactly the time when solar energy is delivering its energy. So on that point they could appear competitive but as was pointed out in the article, it is a false choice on several levels.
The deployment of investment in solar verse natural gas generators is a question of size; how much is needed and for what purpose. Natural gas will dominate when energy demand is critical and very large (urban areas, major manufacturing centers, etc.). Whereas solar can and should take its place where surface area for its installation (solar takes up a lot of space compared to any other electric generating technology) is available.
Realgy Energy Services has invested in building solar projects on the roof of buildings in Illinois. These customers use more than the solar panels can generate (during most days) and the additional electricity is purchased from gas and coal fired power plants. The solar projects were supported with tax incentives that made the investment possible. The solar panels have a 20-25 year operating life with near zero operating costs; no other generating technology can match this (wind does come close but it has higher operating costs). These projects demonstrate how solar energy and all the grid supported generators work together.
Technology will advance and with it the costs of generating electricity will decrease. All energy options should be evaluated and used so as to create diversity of technology, fuels and operations so that the electricity gird is robust and not dependent on a single energy source (remember the 1970’s oil shock) or technology risk. I hear often of the need for a US Energy Policy I think we have it; look at how the US Government supports industry through tax policy and you will see our Energy Policy (heavily favors oil and natural gas).
A real success; consider that is the span of the last 20 years wind energy went from being a tax incentivized technology that was not “financeable” to what is now considered standard technology and capable of investment grade financing. Solar energy will follow the pattern that wind energy and the diversification of the US energy market (along with environmental, jobs, etc.) will benefit.
Green Tech, “Frenemies—Why Solar and Natural Gas Will Be Central to US Energy Policy”