Category

Energy

Article, Consumer, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics, Utilities and Providers

Cheap gas, oil craters: 2015 rocked energy sector

January 3, 2016

The year 2015 has been a tumultuous one for energy throughout the world, including in the U.S. A new era of abundant supplies is emerging here, bringing with it low prices, at least for now. All this comes as the U.S. and other nations take stock of climate change, and the role that producing and using energy plays in the phenomenon. With that in mind, here’s a look back at 10 big developments in energy in the U.S. in 2015. (Read More)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Consumer, Energy, Technology, Utilities and Providers

Internet of Things puts energy grid to test

December 21, 2015

Electric grids in the U.S. and other countries face more challenges than ever when it comes to providing power reliably and affordability. Aging infrastructure, increasing environmental requirements and the influx of solar and other forms of renewable energy all make running an electric utility smoothly increasingly difficult. Add to that test the explosion of data and the need to generate, store and process it on a real-time basis. (Read More)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Energy

U.S. impact after oil exports resume? Jury’s out

December 16, 2015

U.S. oil producers are preparing to celebrate the end of 40 years of restrictions on exports of crude oil, thanks to a provision in a massive government spending bill awaiting congressional approval. With oil prices recently at seven-year lows and showing no signs of recovery soon, domestic producers say the policy change would give them the same access to global markets that their foreign competitors have enjoyed for years. But the benefits may be more hypothetical than certain, at least for now. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Energy

Energy industry loses an executive-suite maverick

December 6, 2015

The resignation of David Crane as chief executive of NRG Energy last week illustrates the risks that leaders of U.S. electric-power companies face in a changing industry. Crane stepped down amid a nosedive in the company’s stock, a slump that reflected investor discomfort over his efforts to transform the company from a traditional supplier of electricity to one increasingly focused on rooftop solar systems, electric-vehicle charging and home energy management. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Defense, Energy, Government and Politics, International

After Paris, new worries over electrical grid attack

November 22, 2015

The potential for a devastating attack on the U.S. electricity grid remains high on the minds of utility and government leaders, especially in light of the deadly terrorist actions in Paris on Nov. 13. Just days after the carnage in the French capital, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) conducted a massive exercise simulating coordinated assaults on the grid in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, one that involved cyber and physical attacks that left millions of people without electricity for an extended period of time. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy, Technology, Utilities and Providers

Electric execs get charge out of tech possibilities

November 16, 2015

Top executives from investor-owned electric utilities across the U.S. gathered in Hollywood, Fla., last week for the annual financial conference held by their trade association, the Edison Electric Institute. They spent hours meeting with analysts, investment bankers and ratings agencies regarding their utilities’ financial returns and the outlook for capital spending, revenue and earnings. That’s the sort of talk that’s characterized the EEI meeting since it began 50 years ago. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Consumer, Corporations, Energy, Utilities and Providers

Stagnant electric demand sparks mega mergers

November 9, 2015

Stagnant demand for electricity in the USA is forcing utilities to look elsewhere for revenue and earnings, prompting a surge in mergers and acquisitions. Recent announcements by Duke Energy and Southern Company illustrate the trend, which is likely to continue for some time, according to analysts, including the accounting firm EY, previously known as Ernst & Young. (Read More)

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by Bill Loveless