The WORLD CUP is likely to generate over £1bn of additional revenue as 40 million English football fans sit in awe as Messrs Rooney and Beckham attempt to get through the quarter final stages of the World Cup on penalties against the Germans! If they succeed the party will be immense, if they win the whole thing, then the effects will last long into August. Retailers are already reporting positive trading results for May – particularly in the sale of wide screen TVs!

But how will the energy industry respond? Most of the games are being played in the evening and so energy productivity is likely not to drop. The traded markets, as was seen yesterday, tend to slow with little price movement. The market’s focus switches from long dated contracts to the prompt with many reluctant to take out positions along the curve when a big game is imminent. The market will look for cheap trading opportunities. Trading the half hour 21.00-21.30, when England could be taking penalties, is a likely winner as demand soars as the nation rushes to make a cup of tea. Black outs are unlikely but demand surges can cause problems, and NGC will have many stations available for the ramp up (so they will make good money irrespective of whether there is a demand surge or not). Lets hope that these standby stations are not the only ones with smiles on their faces...