Insights
Price management Insights
Is It Time to Lock in Prices for Natural Gas?
May 2012
Although natural gas prices for nearer terms have seen a recent rally, gas buyers should exercise caution in making decisions based on these price movements. Read more >>
High Natural Gas Production, Low Demand and Prices: The Interplay
March 2012
Under current conditions of high production and low demand, natural gas prices in the US are unlikely to rally in a sustained way. Read more >>
Union Gas Proposes Rate Design Changes
March 2012
As part of its 2013 rates application to the Ontario Energy Board, Union has proposed rate design changes for a number of its rate groups. If approved, some changes will take effect at the start of 2013 and others at the beginning of 2014. Read more >>
Electricity Infrastructure Renewal: The Third Cost Wave
January 2012
Infrastructure renewal is the third of three cost waves hitting electricity consumers in Ontario. The infrastructure wave will pose challenges for consumers, regulators and policy-makers. Read more >>
System Gas as a Source of Supply for Larger Consumers
October 2011
The price for system supply from Enbridge and Union has been relatively low and stable for the last while, leading larger natural gas consumers to ask whether system supply is a viable alternative for them. Read more >>
Oil and Natural Gas Prices: How Are They Related?
March 2011
Prices for crude oil and natural gas have diverged since 2009 to the point where the ratio between oil and natural gas near-month prices is about 25 to 1. The recent relationship between oil and natural gas prices reflects important differences in the two commodities. Read more >>
Transportation Deserves Attention as Strategy to Control Energy Costs
November 2010
Recent trends in the gas industry lead to the realization that a transportation strategy has become an important area for analysis by energy buyers. Read more >>
Hallowe'en Agreement - Trick or Treat for Today's Consumers?
October 2010
Twenty-five years ago on October 31, the federal government and Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan announced the Agreement on Natural Gas Markets and Prices. This Hallowe'en Agreement initiated the deregulation of prices and the move toward a free market for the commodity. Did it result in a trick or treat for today's consumers? Read more >>
Liquidity and Its Practical Importance to Energy Buyers
September 2010
Liquidity speaks to how quickly and easily you can buy or sell a volume of energy at a delivery point and for a term of interest. For energy buyers, it makes practical sense to purchase in liquid markets. Read more >>
Hurricanes and Hedging - Price Risk Management in Action
September 2010
Commodity price risk management costs money and raises questions about how likely it is that things will go wrong and how bad it will be if they do. The annual hurricane season is one phenomenon that can be used to illustrate price risk management in action. Read more >>