
16 January 2008
Evan Davis' article on Setting prices is well worth a read Powerisk has a few additions to his story.
Evan Davis has written a fantastic blog on energy prices (see article)
However, there are a couple of additional issues which he should think about:
- Markets assume that there will be limnited government input. If governments threaten to plan to impose windfall taxes, then energy companies will hold out to make hay when they can.
- The theory of the kinked demand curve whilst accurate in the case of power is always being challenged by regulators but the market is also vertically integrated and so the theory can break down in practice.
- Energy companies a little like the economy have traditionally under spent on investment, and see real opportunities in green energy which will cost more and hence why prices (wholesale or retail) also must increase.
It is still a great article and worth a read.
60 %
Chancellor for the day.........
 
22 March 2006
The market has ticked down a little with a sell of in April due to a relaxation in the supposed gas fears and the market has fallen on the back of this. Winter 06 still looks high and perhaps some of the shorts might come and sell at these levels, but there are not many shorts in the market, willing to take the risk.  
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60 %
Enron case highlights the need for assets
 
19 January 2006
Enron are back in the news, and their story is an interesting one. The market has survived without them but in truth is, it is a very different place that probably mourns their departure more than most would admit.  
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Gains Seen Across the Curve
 
21 December 2009
There was no sign of an early Christmas in the power market on Friday with a 'flurry' of trading resulting in gains across the power curve.  
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We're borrowing less than expected....
 
20 August 2010
As the government prepares its spending review it will no doubt welcome the latest figures that show net borrowing for July at £3.8bn. While still sizeable, this is £1.2bn less than forecast and well down on the £6.1bn that was borrowed in the same month last year.  
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Energy Secretary gives the first annual energy statement to the Commons
 
28 July 2010
Chris Huhne, the coalition government Energy Secretary yesterday gave the first annual energy statement to the Commons. He set out plans to secure energy supplies and cut carbon emissions. In all 32 measures were outlined all with the aim of helping the UK achieve the legally binding target to cut emission by 80% by 2050.  
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2nd Quarter Growth at 1.1%; What Role For Energy
 
23 July 2010
Preliminary figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests the UK economy grew by 1.1% in the second quarter, up from the previous quarter's 0.3%. While the figures are preliminary (and based on around 40% of the ultimate data), what they do show is that construction, a relatively small part of the economy, contributed significantly to this growth figure. With 6 out of 10 civil engineering firms looking to the energy and water sectors for their income streams, it seems energy has a role to play in underpinning the recovery.  
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A week of Positives
 
09 July 2010
This was a week for good news in the Financial markets; the IMF upgraded its forecasts for world economic growth and there was increasing confidence that European banks would pass their stress tests. Borrowers were pleased, though not surprised that UK interest rates remained unchanged. Overall world stock markets recorded gains across the week.  
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Falling Wholesale Prices but what about the tariffs?
 
18 September 2009
Even though the power wholesale market is following the falls seen in gas (Winter 09 Baseload closed the week down £0.20MWh at £38.70), and is now at levels where supplier tariffs must be under pressure, any tariff reduction announcements are unlikely to be made anytime soon.  
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We're borrowing less than expected....
 
20 August 2010
As the government prepares its spending review it will no doubt welcome the latest figures that show net borrowing for July at £3.8bn. While still sizeable, this is £1.2bn less than forecast and well down on the £6.1bn that was borrowed in the same month last year.  
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Green Investment Bank still a Concept
 
16 July 2010
Leading figures from across industry warned that the need for new tools to finance future investment in infrastructure are necessary to secure Britain's growth as a low carbon economy. While the coalitions Green Investment Bank (GIB) is supported, it is important to recognise that it is still at present only a concept.  
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A week of Positives
 
09 July 2010
This was a week for good news in the Financial markets; the IMF upgraded its forecasts for world economic growth and there was increasing confidence that European banks would pass their stress tests. Borrowers were pleased, though not surprised that UK interest rates remained unchanged. Overall world stock markets recorded gains across the week.  
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Unemployment Figures Rise
 
16 June 2010
Unemployment rose to 2.47m during the first 3 months of the year and with further public sector cuts widely anticipated, things don't look particularly rosy. A very tricky balancing act lies ahead - sort out the deficit but beware the pull from the black hole called recession.  
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Suddenly it's "British Petroleum"
 
02 June 2010
A name not used in a very long time, but suddenly the US are quick to refer to BP by its old name of British Petroleum, hoping perhaps to distance itself from blame regarding the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But as the US announces a criminal investigation and as BP shares suffer further should the British economy concern itself?  
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Credit Impacts on Liquidity
 
11 September 2008
The Energy Markets are still trading with the banks including Lehman Brothers, the 4th largest investment bank in the US who is struggling to shore up its position following its significant sub-prime related losses.  
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