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Fortnightly Magazine - October 2010

Energy Trading Under Dodd-Frank

Wall Street reform hits the utility business.

Utilities, long accustomed to regulation by FERC and state PUCs, now face extensive regulation of their energy trading activities by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act—commonly known as Dodd-Frank—signed into law July 21, 2010, energy swap contracts may be subject to new capital, margin, reporting, business conduct, and other requirements that likely will increase their trading costs and create new compliance concerns.

Byline: 

Jonathan W. Gottlieb and Nathan E. Endrud

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Utility-Customer Partnerships

Engaging the consumer takes on new meaning.

Customer backlash over dynamic pricing and the smart-grid caught the industry unprepared. CIOs and top customer specialists share their strategies for engagement and attaining consumer satisfaction.

Byline: 

Lori A. Burkhart

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ARRA Sunset

A renewable incentive expires with the Treasury grant program.

With incentives under the Treasury grant program set to expire at the end of the year, green-power development once again seems to be entering the bust phase of its perennial boom-bust cycle. Statutory deadlines presage a surge in new construction beginning between now and the end of the year. What happens after that depends on Congress.

Byline: 

Philip H. Spector

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Main Street Gold Mine

Funds collected for cost-of-removal liabilities could finance capital spending.

The industry might be overlooking a source of capital for smart-grid and similar investments. Funds collected in depreciation accounts for cost-of-removal liabilities could finance capital spending projects.

Byline: 

Michael J. Majoros Jr., et al.

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