Insights
Price management Insights
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 >>
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 >>
Explaining the Global Adjustment, Part 1
March 2008
The Global Adjustment is not well understood by many consumers, yet this mechanism has a large and growing impact on the true cost of electricity that you use. Read more >>
Are You Ready To Leave The Regulated Price Plan?
February 2008
Some municipalities, school boards and hospitals who have been in the Regulated Rate Plan feel that their organization will be hurt if they leave the RRP. However, the protection offered by the RRP to large consumers is a myth. Read more >>