Modeling Storm Outages
New tools for enhancing utility preparedness and response.
Sandy and other major storms have raised the bar for outage management. New modeling systems help utilities predict effects and plan their response.
Five Years Later
Wall Street is back in business. What’s next for utility finance?
When Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in September 2008, it marked the beginning of a financial crisis. By most accounts, the utility industry has been a picture of stability through tumultuous times. The view from Wall Street remains bullish – despite some reasons for concern.
Cross-Border Bargaining
Interregional grid planning under FERC Order 1000.
Territorial fights emerge in the interregional transmission plans proposed for compliance with FERC Order 1000.
Hidden Predictability
Mining price signals in Ontario’s electricity market.
Hourly spot prices in Ontario power markets reveal no particular pattern – that is, unless you plot the price as a monthly average.
How to Build a Fence (and When)
A formal methodology for developing ring-fencing arrangements and setting conditions.
How can decision makers determine the appropriate degree of ring-fencing for a utility holding company? The authors propose a systematic and objective method – recognizing business and financial risks specific to the regulated utility and its affiliates.
Category Error in Northeast Markets
Submitted by mburr on Tue, 2013-09-24 11:24New York ISO's mitigation exemption test is intended to address generation market power concerns. But when the ISO applied the test to a major transmission project, it committed a category error that has caused enduring damage in Northeastern markets.
New York ISO's mitigation exemption test is intended to address generation market power concerns. But when the ISO applied the test to a major transmission project, it committed a category error that has caused enduring damage in Northeastern markets.
ABB Successfully Commissions Thornton Bank Offshore Wind Connection
Submitted by aburr on Mon, 2013-09-23 13:20ABB successfully commissioned the subsea transmission link connecting one of the largest offshore wind farms in Europe to the Belgian grid. The Thornton Bank project, executed for the Belgian company C-Power NV was completed on schedule. The transmission link was constructed as part of an expansion of the Thornton Bank wind farm.
British Gas Inks £600m Smart Meter Deal with Landis+Gyr
Submitted by aburr on Mon, 2013-09-23 13:19British Gas announced a deal worth £600 million for Landis+Gyr to supply the majority of the 16 million smart meters British Gas will install in its customers' homes. By 2020 smart meters will be rolled out as standard to homes and businesses across the country as part of a government initiative.
US Power Generating to Merge with Tenaska Capital
Submitted by aburr on Mon, 2013-09-23 13:18US Power Generating (USPG) entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Tenaska Capital Management (TCM). Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, USPG will become a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of TCM. Under the terms of the merger, TCM will purchase USPG, with the final price being determined by a number of business and tax adjustments. Consummation of the merger is subject to customary conditions including approvals of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the New York Public Service Commission.