Insights
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Taking Stock of Carbon Emissions and Risk
July 2008
How to deal with GHG emissions in Canada (through regulations and/or taxation) is being debated. With the federal and provincial governments each putting forward their own initiatives for addressing the challenge of climate change, it is not surprising that there is some confusion about what should be done. Is it best to wait until a complete and formalized process is in place or are there things that can be done now to begin to measure and manage risks that will arise from these processes? Read more >>
Retail Electricity Contracts: Do They Reduce Risk?
July 2008
When entering into any fixed-price electricity arrangement, there are two primary factors to consider: price and quantity. Retail electricity deals are a common offering, often involving paying a fixed price on all of one's electricity consumption. Such deals can assist in managing price risk and possibly lower one's cost of electricity, but only if... Read more >>
Climate Change Policy - Cost and Risk Impacts
June 2008
Climate change policy has been a hot subject in the news lately. As Federal and Provincial governments each weigh in with their own policies, it can become a challenge to keep track of how these policies impact our businesses. In this article, we discuss the various policies and the potential impact on consumers. Read more >>
The Role of LNG in North American Markets
June 2008
Liquefied Natural Gas can benefit consumers and suppliers as it allows for natural gas to reach destinations that would be unreachable with conventional pipelines. In an environment of rising natural gas prices, can LNG provide the additional supply needed to reduce prices in North America? Read more >>
Key Considerations for CESOP and CHP
June 2008
If your organization is considering participation in the Ontario Power Authority's Combined Heat and Power (CHPII) request for proposal or the Clean Energy Standard Offer Program (CESOP), you need to give careful consideration to key elements of your gas supply strategy before you submit your proposal. Careful planning before submitting your proposal can ensure that you have taken full advantage of the OPA programs to manage your risks. Read more >>
Bid/Ask Spreads: Why is the Price Higher When We Buy Versus When We Sell?
May 2008
We've seen it happen on vacation. You pay one price when you buy a foreign currency then you get a lower price when you sell it back. But as experienced travellers, we've learned that there are better places and times to exchange your currency to avoid paying too much. What drives buy/sell spreads in the gas market? Read more >>
Oil and Natural Gas: Are the Prices Linked?
May 2008
There has been an ongoing debate surrounding the relationship between the price of natural gas and the price of oil. What's behind this theory and how does it stand up to historical pricing data? Read more >>
Coal Replacement-Implied Carbon Cost
April 2008
The Ontario government has introduced legislation that all coal generation must be out of service by 2014. The shortfall in generation needed to serve Ontarians will be made up through conservation efforts and gas-fired, nuclear and renewable energy generation. With British Columbia's introduction of a carbon tax recently making headlines, how does Ontario's coal replacement initiative compare in its impact on consumers? Read more >>
Explaining the Global Adjustment, Part 2
April 2008
In a continuation of our article explaining the Global Adjustment and the role it plays in electricity prices, this month's article discusses the impact of conservation and demand management (CDM) on the Global Adjustment and ultimately, your electricity bill. Read more >>
Knowledge Monopolies: What You Don't Know Can Cost You
March 2008
Why is it that many of us distrust the mechanic when our car is getting serviced? Often we fear that we are being overcharged, or duped into paying more for unnecessary work. At the root of the problem is the fact that the mechanic knows more about the situation than we do. Read more >>