Insights
Regulatory/Market Insights
The New Relationship between Empress and Intra-Alberta Gas Prices
November 2011
Natural gas prices at Empress are now at a discount to AECO prices, representing a reversal in the relationship during the last year. The reason for the discount lies in the content of the gas. Read more >>
TransCanada Files for Services Restructuring and Mainline Tolls
September 2011
TransCanada has filed a business and services restructuring proposal with the National Energy Board. The application also covers Mainline tolls for 2012 and 2013. Read more >>
Conservation and Demand Management: Role of Electricity Distributors
September 2011
All licensed electricity distributors in Ontario have conservation and demand management targets for 2014 as a condition of their licences. The distributors are to achive these targets through the delivery of energy savings programs in their service areas. Read more >>
Accurate Energy Consumption Data to Become a Public Sector Must
September 2011
The Green Energy Act introduced a requirement for Ontario's public sector organizations to develop energy conservation and demand management plans. The first step is to submit energy consumption data for their 2012 operations. Ensuring accurate data can pose a challenge. Read more >>
Samsung Renewable Energy Deal: An Update
August 2011
Earlier in August, the Ontario Government released further details of its agreement with Samsung to build 2,500 MW of wind and solar generation. Aegent has updated its assessment of the cost of the deal. Read more >>
Demand-Side Management: Role of Natural Gas Utilities
August 2011
With energy conservation and efficiency topics of considerable attention since the Ontario Government's Green Energy Act, Aegent thought it would be interesting to look at how the province's natural gas utilities fit into the picture. Read more >>
Google's PowerMeter May Be a Cautionary Note
August 2011
The discontinuation of Google's online home energy monitoring tool called PowerMeter may be a cautionary note concerning Ontario's push for smart meters. Read more >>
Reallocation of Global Adjustment Costs: An Update
June 2011
A new mechanism is in effect for allocating costs from the Global Adjustment. For large Class A consumers, their share depends on their electricity use in peak hours. Smaller Class B consumers pay the costs not paid by Class A. Aegent has updated its assessment of the impacts of the reallocation. Read more >>
TransCanada Mainline Tolls: What's Next?
June 2011
Mainline tolls for TransCanada PipeLines have been interim since the start of 2011. TransCanada has asked the National Energy Board to approve a set of final tolls for the current year, but that request is still under consideration. The application has generated discussion about next steps to address the uncertainty around Mainline tolls for 2011 and beyond. Read more >>
Ontario's Electricity Policy Environment Eerily Similar to TOPGAS Era
May 2011
In the early 1980's, the interplay of high energy prices and a slowing economy resulted in more gas supply being offered to TransCanada PipeLines by Alberta producers than was needed by TransCanada to satisfy demand. TransCanada's obligation to take the gas or pay for it anyway led to TOPGAS. Elements of Ontario's current electricity policy environment seem eerily similar to the TOPGAS era. Read more >>