Risk Staff

Risk management

Ferc executes already dead Enron

Enron became the first company to face the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (Ferc) “death penalty” in June when the US energy regulator revoked the bankrupt firm’s authority to sell electricity at market-based rates.

02 Jul 2003

Icap shuts London weather desk

Inter-dealer broker Icap exited the European weather and environmental derivatives market last month. It thereby joined the growing ranks of other market participants – including BNP Paribas, Aquila and Italian bank Intesa BCI – that have fled the…

02 Jul 2003

Energy

LNG may not fix gas supply problem

Despite its long-term promise, liquified natural gas (LNG) will only have a minimal impact on a significant US gas storage shortfall in the winter of 2003/2004, says Energy Security Analysis Inc (Esai), a Boston-based research firm.

02 Jul 2003

Energy

US pushes agreement on carbon storage research

The US government has launched an international research and development programme to reduce power plant emissions by pumping carbon dioxide (CO2) into deep storage.

02 Jul 2003

Regulation

Teething problems in Texas

Advocates of retail electricity deregulation cite Texas as evidence that competitioncan succeed. But big risks remain for power marketers, finds Kevin Foster

01 Jul 2003

End of the road for California?

A bill aiming to re-regulate the California energy sector is progressing through the state’s legislature. Does this spell the end for California’s troubled experiment with deregulation? Kevin Foster finds market participants split over the issue

01 Jul 2003

California’s master plan

California’s energy regulators have an action plan to upgrade the electricity system. But if they don’t add generation, shortages could again hit. Kevin Foster reports

01 Jul 2003

Regulation

More power to the banks

Banks now have greater freedom to participate in derivatives markets based on physical commodities thanks to two recent ruling by US regulators. As a result, the balance of power looks set to shift from Houston to New York. By Paul Lyon

01 Jul 2003

Structured products

Lessons in loaning

Lenders and borrowers alike are becoming ever more innovative at a worrying time for energy company financing. But will the new ideas catch on? Paul Lyon reports