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Fortnightly Magazine - June 15 2003

Perspective

Social and political attitudes toward cheap power were a major obstacle to electricity liberalization in Poland; they also may be one in Russia.


Social and political attitudes toward cheap power were a major obstacle to electricity liberalization in Poland; they also may be one in Russia.

The Feb. 1, 2003, edition of Public Utilities Fortnightly contained a pair of articles (Competition Lost, and Superpower Opportunities) about utilities that invested abroad during the 1990s. The pairing of the articles leads to the question of what can be learned from the past to facilitate investments in future opportunities.

Byline: 
Zachariah Allen
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Benchmarks

Significant obstacles stand in the way of achieving cost savings that should accrue to market-based emissions trading policies.

Byline: 
John Blaney
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Commission Watch

PJM would dictate grid expansion, even if not needed for reliability, and then push the cost of the upgrades on those who use them the most.


PJM would dictate grid expansion, even if not needed for reliability, and then push the cost of the upgrades on those who use them the most.

Chairman Pat Wood and his Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) may well have given up on attempts to impose a standard market design (SMD) on the electric utility industry, but that doesn't mean the nation's grid system operators won't try the same thing.

Byline: 
Bruce W. Radford
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Business & Money

Will dividends become the sole focus for investor valuations of utilities?


Will dividends become the sole focus for investor valuations of utilities?

With last month's favorable Senate vote to repeal the tax on dividends from 2004-2006 and reduce it 50 percent this year, and the high-profile conference committee meetings between the House and the Senate at press time, many are asking if investors are, or should be, beginning to evaluate utility companies solely on the basis of the dividend.

Byline: 
Richard Stavros
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Technology Corridor

Tidal energy technology improves, but is it enough?


Tidal energy technology improves, but is it enough?

Could ocean energy be the next big thing in renewables?

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors in early May approved a pilot project, estimated at $2 million, to test technology that produces electricity from the tides in the San Francisco Bay.

The city hopes to produce 1 MW with the project and add it to the San Francisco grid by Jan. 1, 2006.

Byline: 
Jennifer Alvey
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Off Peak

School plays teach efficiency, creativity, and self-confidence.

School plays teach efficiency, creativity, and self-confidence.

Bumbling Melvin Markham is a hero. He just doesn't know it. As the central character in an innovative school play, Melvin learns that everyone can save energy and the environment.

Byline: 
Mark Fryburg
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Emissions: Where Are the Traders?

Market fundamentals are driving NO<sub>X</sub> prices higher.


Market fundamentals are driving NOX prices higher.

Environmental compliance appears poised to become the biggest single driver of asset value for electric generators during the next five years.

While limits on sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have been achieved with relatively minor impact through the tradeable allowance program, permit systems in the future will become increasingly stringent. The NOX State Implementation Plan (SIP) Call represents just the first instance of this.

Byline: 
Steve Piper
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