Market Monitor Blog
Your home for commercial electricity and natural gas market news—covering market factors like supply, demand, regulatory affairs, weather, and more.
5 New England States To Study Bringing More Hydroelectricity Into Region
Five of the six New England states are going to study the best way to bring more large-scale hydroelectricity into the region, they said. Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont launched the regional initiative, in which the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) will… Read more
Texas Governor Signs Bills On Combined Heat And Power, Financing For C&I Initiatives
Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed two energy packages into law, one supporting combined heat and power (CHP) and the other allowing Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. Perry signed two CHP bills: The first clarified language in the Texas Utility Code to let cogeneration facilities sell power… Read more
Report Identifies Value Of Lost Load In ERCOT
ERCOT might have the highest price cap in the country, but even the $9,000/MWh cap that will hit in 2015 is not based on the “value of lost load” (VOLL), said a report from London Economics. The only economic rationale for setting a price cap that high is that it is costly when the power goes out – so,… Read more
ISO-New England Pushes Steps To Avoid Winter Blackouts
Worried there might not be enough natural gas in New England this winter to meet demand, the region’s electric grid operator wants oil-fired power plants to stockpile 4.2 million barrels of oil by Dec. 1 for backup. ISO-New England also wants more big businesses to agree to shut down power-guzzling equipment… Read more
Report: Natural Gas, Renewables Should Work Together – Not Compete – On Texas Grid
Renewable energy and natural gas should work together as sources of electricity generation, rather than as competitors on the Texas grid, according to a new report produced for the Texas Clean Energy Coalition. The report, produced by the Brattle Group, notes that wind power tends to displace natural… Read more
NYISO Says It Has Adequate Reserves For Summer 2013
NYISO said it expects to have enough reserves to meet peak demand this summer despite power plant retirements. The ISO’s demand should peak at 33,279 MWs, which is forecast to be 840 MWs above last year’s peak but 660 MWs below the all-time peak set in 2006. The peak forecast is based on normal summer… Read more
PJM Capacity Auction Attracts Record Amount Of New Generation
PJM’s annual capacity auction attracted a record amount of new generation, as prices dropped in all but one zone. The base residual auction for June 1, 2016, through May 31, 2017, drew record-breaking imports from the Midcontinent ISO (MISO’s new name). The auction procured 5,463 MWs of new generation,… Read more