Archives 2013

Archives–Texas Electric News Clips 2013

Any opinions voiced in the articles linked below are those of the article authors only, and not necessarily endorsed by Competitive Assets.

For the Week of  12/27/13 — 1/3/14

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Dec 30, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Faces Probable Bankruptcy In Fall 2014

Dec 30, 2013: Court Agrees To Close Portion Of FM 1794, Luminant Co. To Build New County Road

Generation Adequacy

Jan 1, 2013: In Texas, Natural Gas And Renewables Expected To Meet Future Energy Needs

Dec 31, 2013: FERC Accepts PJM’s Streamlined Emergency Demand Response Registration Process

Dec 28, 2013: Texas Electricity Prices Jump as Power Demand Exceeds Forecast

Dec 28, 2013: New England, With Capacity Market, Seeing More Retail Energy Suppliers Default than “Volatile” Texas Energy-Only Market

Headlines

Jan 2, 2013: Texas REP Offering $60 Monthly Credit to Customers with High Usage

Jan 2, 2013: Electricity’s Next Frontier: Putting The Customer In Control

Jan 2, 2013: Entergy Utilities Complete MISO Integration

Jan 2, 2013: Winter Storms Cost the American Economy Billions of Dollars

Jan 2, 2013: White House Regulatory Office Releases Final Rule Covering Electrical Power Safety

Dec 31, 2013: Ten Biggest Energy Stories Of 2013

Dec 31, 2013: White House Releases Electrical-Safety Regulations

Dec 31, 2013: Discovery Could Lead to Efficient Electric Power Delivery

Dec 30, 2013: Sabine River Authority of Texas and Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Toledo Bend Hydroelectric Project

Dec 28, 2013: New Energy Struggles on Its Way to Markets

Renewable Power

Jan 2, 2013: Power-Line Network Done

Jan 2, 2013: New Energy Struggles on Its Way to Markets

Jan 2, 2013: Finding Ways to Minimize Power Grid Disruptions from Wind Power

Jan 2, 2013: Buffet Backs Wind Power; Some Communities Displeased

Jan 2, 2013: Congress Allows Wind Tax Subsidies To Fizzle Out

Dec 31, 2013: Austin’s First True All Solar Neighborhood

Dec 31, 2013: Texas Is A Leader In Clean Energy Jobs. Let’s Keep It That Way

Dec 31, 2013: New Year Brings Good and Bad News For Texas Wind Power

Dec 31, 2013: Wind Tax Credit Expires At Midnight

Dec 31, 2013: Good Things Are In The Wind

Dec 30, 2013: Will Berkshire’s Bets on Wind Power Pay Off?

Dec 30, 2013: Where is the U.S. Wind Energy Sector Headed?

Dec 30, 2013: How Wind Is Helping Deliver Record-Cheap Solar

Dec 30, 2013: Wind Tax Credit Set to Expire

Dec 30, 2013: Utilities Feeling Rooftop Solar Heat Start Fighting Back

Dec 30, 2013: How Next-Gen Geothermal Could Boost The Future Of Energy

Dec 30, 2013: Geothermal Energy Goes Global

Dec 28, 2013: West Texas Wind Soon Will Light Up The Region

Dec 28, 2013: Texas Wind Industry Might Face A Future Without Incentives

Dec 27, 2013: Invenergy Completes Project Financing For Texas Wind Power Project

Dec 27, 2013: Wind-Turbine Project To Bring Jobs To The Area

Dec 27, 2013: Wind Energy Developers Rush To Get Federal Tax Credits

Dec 27, 2013: Pattern Energy To Buy Two Wind Power Projects, One in Texas

Dec 27, 2013: It’s Time For Wind Power To Stand Or Fall On Its Own

Dec 27, 2013: Coal, Wind, Solar Power Generation Up Through September

Other News

Jan 2, 2013: Texas Retail Provider Under New Ownership

Jan 2, 2013: Shoppers Stockpiling Old-Fashioned Incandescent Bulbs

Jan 2, 2013: Ford Developing Solar-Powered Vehicle

Dec 31, 2013: TriEagle Energy Names New President, COO

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For the Week of  12/20/13 — 12/27/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Generation Adequacy

Dec 27, 2013: PJM Reports “Poor Generator Response” Led to “Operational Issues” on Day Firm Load Shed

Headlines

Dec 26, 2013: Deregulation Has Brought $22 Billion More In Electric Bills For Texas Residents

Dec 26, 2013: Report: Texas Deregulated Retail Prices Now Below National Average; Progress Risked by New Capacity Mandate

Dec 24, 2013: Year in Review: Energy in Texas

Dec 26, 2013: Light Bulb Law Brings Changes, Options

Dec 26, 2013: Coal In Their Stockings

Dec 23, 2013: Christmas Lights? Electricity Price Index At All-Time High In U.S.

Dec 20, 2013: Sharyland to File Smart Meter Deployment Plan, Stipulation Reached on Charges to Texas REPs in New Choice Areas

Dec 20, 2013: CPS Energy Doesn’t Need A Tower

Dec 20, 2013: Voters Should Have Say If Board Sought For Austin Energy

Dec 20, 2013: The 10 Craziest Energy Stories Of 2013

Dec 20, 2013: Electric Power Sector Making Record Investments In Transmission And Distribution

Dec 20, 2013: Threats to the Utility Compact

Renewable Power

Dec 26, 2013: How One Austin Church Could Lead To More Urban Solar Power

Dec 26, 2013: Principal Solar Gets Backing From Carlyle To Become Solar Utility

Dec 26, 2013: Wind Power Developers Race The Clock To Secure A Subsidy

Dec 26, 2013: Where Do Solar Companies Go From Here?

Dec 23, 2013: Kaco New Energy Opens Inverter Manufacturing Facility In Texas

Dec 23, 2013: Warren Buffet Boosts Wind Power with $1B Investment

Dec 23, 2013: Paying For Solar Power Isn’t What It Used To Be

Dec 23, 2013: Are Utilities Wilting From Heat of Solar Competition?

Dec 23, 2013: DOE Invests In New Solar Energy Projects

Dec 23, 2013: Cleanest Coal-Fired Power Plant Has Dirty Trade-Off

Dec 23, 2013: Geothermal Energy in 2013: Expanding Global Growth

Dec 23, 2013: Clean Energy Presents “Perfect Storm” for Utilities

Dec 20, 2013: Texas Inches Its Way Toward Big Solar

Dec 20, 2013: Energy Company Donates Solar Array For New Stephen F. Austin State University Facility

Dec 20, 2013: Vestas Wins Second U.S. Wind Turbine Order for Texas Project in Three Day

Dec 20, 2013: Making Wind Work; Offshore Generation Project Near South Padre Island Seeks To Drive Down Cost

Dec 20, 2013: Mary Jo Woodall Gets Probation In Jonestown Wind Energy Fraud Case

Dec 20, 2013: 13 Major Clean Energy Breakthroughs of 2013

Dec 20, 2013: Total U.S. November Power Generation Gains

Dec 20, 2013: How Next-Gen Geothermal Could Boost The Future Of Energy

Other News

Dec 26, 2013: Depreciation Hits Electric Cars Hard

Dec 25, 2013: Utilities Mimic Cable With Monthly Fee to Preserve Grid

Dec 24, 2013: Enertrade Electric Seeks Texas REP Certificate

Dec 23, 2013: Texas Neighborhoods Where Climate Change Could Hurt

Dec 20, 2013: IEA World Outlook: Six Key Trends Shaping the Energy Future

Dec 20, 2013: Canada Banks Steal Quiet March As Wall Street Retreats From Energy

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For the Week of  12/13/13 — 12/20/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Dec 13, 2013: How A Luminant Bankruptcy Might Affect Milam County

Generation Adequacy

Dec 19, 2013: Texas Electricity Prices Decline As Demand Falls Below Forecast

Dec 19, 2013: Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants Help Bolster State In Drought

Dec 19, 2013: Noble Americas Retail Provider Warns Capacity Market in Texas Will Lead to Customer Dissatisfaction with REPs, Competition

Dec 17, 2013: Texas Power Prices Rise as Demand Increases Above Forecast

Dec 17, 2013: NRG Statement: Capacity Supplier Performance Is “Excused” due to “Gas Unavailability” (Gas Unavailability Major Cause of Most Recent Texas Blackout)

Dec 17, 2013: H-E-B, Shell Oppose Texas Capacity Market

Dec 17, 2013: Latest Six-Year Fixed Product from FirstEnergy Solutions Reinforces How Capacity Market Skews Playing Field in Retail Market

Dec 17, 2013: NRG to Receive Subsidized, State-Arranged Contract to Repower New York Capacity

Dec 16, 2013: Keep Capacity Markets For Electricity Out Of Texas

Dec 14, 2013: Ice Storm Power Outages Leave Questions

Dec 15, 2013: New 2012 Data Show That 3 States Used 23% Of U.S. Electricity

Headlines

Dec 19, 2013: Entergy Hands Off Control Of Power Grid To MISO

Dec 19, 2013: Texas Commissioner Concerned Proposed Change to POLR Rule Does Not Sufficiently Protect Market

Dec 19, 2013: PUC Approves $86,000 Settlement with Retail Supplier

Dec 19, 2013: Texas Electricity Provider 4Change Energy Lets Customers Know That Now is the Season 4Change

Dec 19, 2013: Texas Electric Rates Below National Average For First Time In A Decade

Dec 19, 2013: Oncor: More Than 800,000 People Lost Power In Ice Storm

Dec 19, 2013: Dawn of Microgrids

Dec 18, 2013: Report: Texas Electricity Prices Falling Since Deregulation

Dec 18, 2013: Txdot Chief Resigning To Lead Austin-Area Water, Electricity Provider

Dec 18, 2013: LCRA Board Taps Phil Wilson, State Transportation Chief, As Its New Leader

Dec 18, 2013: MISO Taking Control of Entergy System Will Extend Grid to Gulf

Dec 18, 2013: The Energy Reform Bill in Mexico

Dec 17, 2013: Centrica’s Direct Energy To Sell Texas Gas-fired Power Stations To Blackstone

Dec 17, 2013: Blackstone Buys Power Sites From Centrica Unit for $685 Million

Dec 17, 2013: Much At Stake as LCRA Chooses a New Leader

Dec 17, 2013: Utilities Propose New Transmission Lines In West Texas

Dec 17, 2013: Austin Energy Can Have Independent Board Without Referendum, AG Says

Dec 17, 2013: Fitch Affirms and Withdraws Ratings on NRG and GenOn Entities

Dec 17, 2013: Two CPS Linemen Shocked

Dec 17, 2013: TXU Energy Investment in Trees Delivers Community Benefits for Decades

Dec 17, 2013: Did Texas Hurt Industry By Fighting EPA Greenhouse Gas Regulations?

Dec 17, 2013: Fitch: U.S. Net Metering Set to Grow, but Effect on Electric Utilities Uncertain

Dec 17, 2013: EPA Rules, Plant Economics Drive M&A Interest In Generation’s ‘Used Car Lot’

Dec 16, 2013: Oncor Plans Partnership With Richardson On Project

Dec 16, 2013: Oncor: Bird Causes Power Outage In Killeen

Dec 13, 2013: Despite Enron And California, Retail Electricity Reform Has Not Been Zapped

Dec 13, 2013: ITC Holdings Ends Proposed Transaction

Dec 14, 2013: ITC Holdings Ends $1.8 Billion Entergy Purchase

Dec 13, 2013: Texas Consumer Advocate Agency’s Aim: ‘Provide A Voice’ For Consumers On Utility Rates

Dec 15, 2013: Blackout Came As No Surprise For This Town

Dec 13, 2013: CPS Eyes Building New HQ

Dec 14, 2013: Smart Grids Could Fix Decrepit US Power Grid

Dec 12, 2013: Looking at Cybersecurity Today: Attacks and Options

Renewable Power

Dec 19, 2013: Largest Solar Plant in Texas Online

Dec 18, 2013: EDF Renewable Energy Acquires Longhorn North Wind Project from RES Americas

Dec 18, 2013: OCI Solar Power Completes Texas’ Largest Solar Farm

Dec 18, 2013: OCI Solar’s Project For CPS Bringing More Jobs To San Antonio Than Anticipated

Dec 18, 2013: Real Goods Solar Reports Results Of 2013 Annual Meeting

Dec 18, 2013: Solar Power: The Idea, the Reality, and the Future

Dec 18, 2013: Blade Dynamics to Build 80-Meter Long Wind Turbine Blade

Dec 17, 2013: Natural Gas, Wind Power Are Texas’ Electric Future

Dec 17, 2013: New Analysis Sees Strong Future For Renewables In Texas

Dec 17, 2013: Solar Power Installation Costs Fall Through The Floor

Dec 13, 2013: 5 Steps to Making Your Windows More Energy Efficient

Dec 14, 2013: Houston’s Growing Alternative-Fuel Fleet Among Nation’s Largest

Dec 12, 2013: Offshore Generation Project in Texas Seeks To Drive Down Cost

Dec 12, 2013: Small Wind Power Market to Reach over $3 Billion by 2020

Dec 13, 2013: Solar Jobs In US On The Rise

Other News

Dec 18, 2013: R. Scott Gahn Named to Board of Just Energy

Dec 18, 2013: Retail Supplier Offering Two Years of Free Electricity With Solar Lease

Dec 15, 2013: Oncor Rewards Kaufman County With Over $10,000 For Energy Efficiency

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For the Week of  12/6/13 — 12/13/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Dec 13, 2013: How A Luminant Bankruptcy Might Affect Milam County

Dec 8, 2013: Energy Future Holdings CEO Has Hope For Spring Deal With Creditors

Generation Adequacy

Dec 12, 2013: Noting “Major” Software Projects to Start in 2014, ERCOT Reports Full Co-optimization Would Take Over Three Years to Implement

Dec 10, 2013: Chastened by ’11 Debacle, Texas Utilities Kept Plants Up In Latest Freeze

Dec 10, 2013: Four Proposed Coal Export Terminals Have Now Failed This Year Due To ‘Diminished’ Market

Dec 10, 2013: State Denies Acquisition of Entergy Transmission by ITC Subsidiary (Another Opportunity for Texas to Go Back to Drawing Board on Future of Entergy Texas)

Dec 9, 2013: PUC Commissioner Says NRG Overstated Costs On Power Study

Dec 9, 2013: PUCT Commissioner Anderson Staff Analysis: CRA/NRG Study On Capacity Market “Savings” Filled With Errors, Omissions And Incorrect Assumptions

Dec 9, 2013: Texas Power Prices Rise As Chill Pushes Demand Above Forecast

Dec 9, 2013: ERCOT Sets New December Peak Load Record With Frigid Weather

Dec 9, 2013: Icy Weather Sends Texas’ December Power Use To New Record

Dec 9, 2013: Oncor Nears Complete Power Restoration After Texas Ice Storms

Dec 9, 2013: Most Electricity Restored In Texas After Ice Storm

Dec 8, 2013: Oncor Targets Late Sunday For Full Power Restoration

Headlines

Dec 12, 2013: Texas Staff Make Recommendation on Review of Retail Provider Certification, POLR Rules in Light of Higher Offer Caps

Dec 12, 2013: Texas Staff File Proposed Revisions Related to Utility/Affiliate Code of Conduct, Marketing Rules

Dec 12, 2013: Texas Staff Propose Questions Regarding REP Sharing of Customer Information

Dec 12, 2013: Texas Staff File Proposal for Adoption to Allow Affiliate to Assume REP’s Non-Volunteer POLR Obligation

Dec 12, 2013: U. S. Supreme Court Hears Texas’ Challenge To Epa’s Unlawful Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

Dec 12, 2013: EPA Should Count Energy Efficiency Toward Standards For Existing Power Plants

Dec 12, 2013: Fitch: 2014 Public Power & Electric Coops Outlook Stable Despite Potential Environmental Regulations

Dec 12, 2013: Fluor’s NuScale Power Awarded U.S. DOE Funding to Advance Nuclear Small Modular Reactor Technology

Dec 12, 2013: MISO Board of Directors Re-elected at Annual Meeting

Dec 12, 2013: Merger Pace Picking Up Again In Power Industry

Dec 11, 2013: Guess Who Supports Opt-Out Municipal Aggregation

Dec 11, 2013: Fitch Ratings Upholds High Rating For South Texas Electric Cooperative

Dec 11, 2013: El Paso Far East Community and El Paso Electric Come to Agreement on Montana Power Station

Dec 11, 2013: Xcel Energy Inc. Board Declares Dividend on Common Stock

Dec 11, 2013: Texas Coal Export Terminal Scrapped

Dec 11, 2013: Justices May Back EPA On Air Pollution Rule

Dec 11, 2013: The Shifting Economics Of Coal-Fired Generation

Dec 11, 2013: Podesta Will Dig Into Energy And Climate Policy

Dec 10, 2013: Groups Ask Texas Commission to Require Re-certification of Retail Electric Providers Every Two Years

Dec 10, 2013: ITC Holdings Issues Statement on Mississippi Public Service Commission Ruling

Dec 10, 2013: Entergy Issues Statement on Mississippi Regulators’ Decision on ITC Holdings Transaction

Dec 10, 2013: TCEC-Led Report Finds Renewable Energy And Natural Gas Both Play Substantial Roles In Future Texas Electric Market

Dec 10, 2013: Fitch Affirms South Texas Electric Coop at ‘A-‘; Outlook Stable

Dec 10, 2013: Co-ops Battling Ice in Many States

Dec 10, 2013: Why Doesn’t Texas Want Clean Air?

Dec 9, 2013: ERCOT Proposes Changes to POLR Notification, Mailer Process

Dec 9, 2013: ETT Energizes Last Of Seven CREZ Transmission Lines In West Texas

Dec 9, 2013: Finish Line For Texas Wind Links

Dec 9, 2013: The Irony Of Texas Taking Over Ghg Permitting Authority

Dec 9, 2013: NRDC Power Plant Proposal Cuts Carbon Pollution At Low Cost With Major Benefits

Dec 9, 2013: Obama’s Pollution-Control Agenda Goes to Court Tomorrow

Dec 8, 2013: New Law Leads To Light Bulb Hoarders

Dec 8, 2013: Acting FERC Chairman Outlines Preliminary Priorities In Wide-Ranging Discussion With Lawmakers

Dec 8, 2013: Dodd-Frank and Electric Utilities

Renewable Power

Dec 12, 2013: E.ON Climate & Renewables closes financing for Panther Creek Wind Farm I&II, LLC in Texas

Dec 12, 2013: 230 US Civil Society Groups Call For Offshore Action

Dec 12, 2013: DOE Investment To Drive Solar Manufacturing

Dec 12, 2013: Solar Energy Reaches A Major Milestone In The US

Dec 12, 2013: Nextera Energy’s Corporate Responsibility Report Details Billions In Clean Energy Investment

Dec 11, 2013: UBS to acquire 50% stake in Spinning Spur II wind farm project in Texas

Dec 11, 2013: Big Batteries Needed To Make Fickle Wind And Solar Power Work

Dec 11, 2013: Eagle Deaths Split Wind-Farm Debate

Dec 11, 2013: Congress Should Extend Wind Energy Tax Credit

Dec 11, 2013: DOE Invests $13 Million To Drive U.S. Solar Power Manufacturing

Dec 11, 2013: American Solar Pick: SunPower Vs. SolarCity Vs. First Solar

Dec 11, 2013: Solar’s 2014 Boom Is Coming

Dec 10, 2013: UBS Partners EDF For Texas Wind

Dec 10, 2013: U.S. Solar Gained 35% in Third Quarter Led by Big Plants

Dec 10, 2013: Innovative Wind Towers Won’t Harm Eagles

Dec 10, 2013: New Legislation Could Cause Investments in Wind Energy to Climb

Dec 10, 2013: Green Power Gridlock: Why Renewable Energy Is No Alternative

Dec 10, 2013: The Koch Brothers Are Still Trying to Break Wind

Dec 10, 2013: US Fossil Fuels Losing Out To Wind And Solar

Dec 10, 2013: Solar Liberator Sets Out To Revolutionize The Use Of Solar Power

Dec 10, 2013: US Solar Power Sector Small But Growing

Dec 10, 2013: U.S. Rooftop Solar Power Shatters Third Quarter Records

Dec 10, 2013: Geothermal Energy Association Announced GEA Honors Winners

Dec 9, 2013: Blackrock Purchases Majority Interest In Ownenergy’s New 68MW Texas Wind Farm

Dec 9, 2013: Renewable Energy Generation Reaches New Heights In Texas

Dec 9, 2013: Wind And Solar Costs Challenge Fossil Fuels In Us

Dec 9, 2013: U.S. Eases Wind Power Bird-Death Rule

Dec 9, 2013: How Bright Is The Future Of Solar Power?

Dec 8, 2013: Study Finds Texas Biggest Earner From Wind Tax Credit

Dec 8, 2013: Officials Missed Numerous Opportunities To Prevent Jonestown Wind Project Failure

Dec 8, 2013: Nuclear Proponent Stumbles With Attacks On Wind Power’s Efficiency

Dec 8, 2013: Wind Farms: Interior Department Sacrifices Eagle Protection For Alternative Energy

Dec 8, 2013: Are Solar Stocks in a Bubble?

Other News

Dec 12, 2013: National Retail Energy Supplier To Be Acquired by Private Equity-Backed Company

Dec 12, 2013: Science Panel: “Abrupt” Impacts Of Climate Change Need Vigilant Attention

Dec 11, 2013: Megatons To Megawatts: Russian Warheads Fuel U.S. Power Plants

Dec 10, 2013: Texas Sees Growth in Natural Gas-Powered Vehicles

Dec 9, 2013: Retail Supplier Acquires Dallas Based Broker, Network Marketer

Dec 9, 2013: Report: Consumers Beware Prepaid Electricity Plans and Fees

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For the Week of  11/29/13 — 12/6/13

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Dec 5, 2013: When Will Luminant File For Bankruptcy?

Dec 3, 2013: Fitch Affirms IDRs of TCEH and EFCH at ‘C’ and EFH and EFIH at ‘CC’

Nov 27, 2013: Luminant Fined $750,000 In Massive 2011 Power Outage

Nov 29, 2013: Oncor Considering Additional Transmission Lines

Generation Adequacy

Dec 6, 2013: Ice Leaves More Than 250,000 Without Power; DART Suspends Rail Service; Txdot Plowing

Dec 6, 2013: Oncor Responds to Winter Storm

Dec 5, 2013: ERCOT Says There’s Enough Power as Storm Arrives

Dec 5, 2013: Perry Directs PUC, TXDOT And Military To Help In Storm

Dec 5, 2013: TXU Energy Urges Conservation During Winter Storm

Dec 4, 2013: In Texas, Reliability Concerns Pit Manufacturers Against Generators

Dec 4, 2013: Subsidies for Texas Electric Plant Construction Stir Legal, Financial Concerns

Dec 3, 2013: Power Plant Deal To Augment Calpine’s Share Of State Market

Dec 3, 2013: The $4 Billion Texas Electric Bill

Dec 1, 2013: Neeley: Rule Could Mean Lights Out In Texas

Dec 2, 2013: Calpine To Buy Texas Power Plant But Delay Plan For New Units

Dec 2, 2013: Calpine to Purchase Power Plant Near S.A.

Dec 2, 2013: Debate Over a Changing Texas Energy Market Heats Up at Senate Natural Resources Committee Hearing

Dec 2, 2013: ERCOT Files 4CP Report with PUCT

Dec 2, 2013: Calpine to Purchase Texas Power Plant for $625 Million

Dec 1, 2013: Power Companies Face Grim Reality As Commodity Bets Expire

Headlines

Dec 5, 2013: Austin Energy Relaxes Rules For Customers Whose Electricity Is Disconnected

Dec 5, 2013: Oil Exports, Coal Woes Lead Energy Trends

Dec 5, 2013: On the Hot Seat: EPA and FERC

Dec 5, 2013: MISO: Adverse Court Decision On JOA Tussle With SPP Will Not Impact Entergy’s Integration

Dec 5, 2013: Florida Power & Light Company Sends Crews To Arkansas And Texas To Support Anticipated Power Restoration Efforts

Dec 5, 2013: NEC Ushers In New Era For The Co-Op With Grand Opening Of New Headquarters

Dec 5, 2013: New FERC Energy Storage Rule Boosts Industry Presence

Dec 4, 2013: Holiday Storms Spark Co-op Outages

Dec 4, 2013: When Customers Talk, TXU Energy Listens

Dec 5, 2013: Texas REP Offering $200 Incentive for Enrollments

Dec 4, 2013: Texas Congressman Gene Green To Keynote Transforum Texas

Dec 4, 2013: Large Companies Prepared to Pay Price on Carbon

Dec 3, 2013: FERC Chairman and NEMA Falk Award Winner Jon Wellinghoff to Step Down

Dec 3, 2013: NRG Says Markets Could Adjust To Carbon Trading: Analysis

Dec 3, 2013: White House To Utilities: Do A Better Job With Multifamily Customers

Dec 3, 2013: Northeast Retail Supplier to Enter Texas Market

Dec 2, 2013: The EPA’s Bold New Agenda

Dec 2, 2013: GE Power & Water Closing Houston Plant

Dec 2, 2013: Dow Chemical Looking To Spin Off, Sell 40 Plants

Dec 2, 2013: Constellation Energy Partners Borrowing Base Set at $55 Million

Dec 2, 2013: Can Electricity Grids Withstand The Next Superstorm?

Nov 30, 2013: The $38 Billion Nuclear Waste Fiasco

Renewable Power

Dec 5, 2013: Obama Tells Government to Increase Renewable Power to 20 Percent

Dec 5, 2013: Solarcity Turns To Tesla For Batteries To Soak Up Solar Power

Dec 5, 2013: Solar Energy Generation Shows Growth In 2012

Dec 5, 2013: NRECA Providing Online Training for Integration of Renewable Energy on Co-op Lines

Dec 5, 2013: New Facebook Data Center To Be Powered By Wind Energy

Dec 5, 2013: Utility-Scale Solar Power Will Grow with the Help of Natural Gas

Dec 4, 2013: Friedman, Luzzatto & Co. And Duncan-Williams Complete Underwriting For Waste Energy Project In San Antonio

Dec 4, 2013: ALEC Calls for Penalties on “Freerider” Solar Customers

Dec 4, 2013: 3 Lessons Energy Efficiency Can Borrow From Fracking

Dec 4, 2013: 15,000 New Green Jobs Announced Across America In 3Q 2013

Dec 4, 2013: Electric Car Owner Arrested For Stealing 5 Cents’ Worth of Power

Dec 4, 2013: Kemp: Coal, The Dirty But Indispensable Fuel

Dec 3, 2013: City-Owned Texas Utility Already Serves 40% Renewable Energy

Dec 3, 2013: Renewable Electricity Production Grows In Texas

Dec 3, 2013: The Wind Energy Threat to Birds Is Overblown

Dec 3, 2013: Solar Thin Films Aims for a Hole in One in Golf Market

Dec 3, 2013: Corporate America’s Biggest Names are Going Solar

Dec 2, 2013: Renewable Electricity Production Grows In Texas

Dec 2, 2013: Construction Continues at Iberdrola Renewables’ Baffin Wind Farm in Texas

Dec 2, 2013: Texas Landfill Gas Project Financed With Taxable Revenue Bond

Dec 2, 2013: Tesla Versus Texas

Dec 2, 2013: Adding More Local Wind Power Does Not Affect Property

Dec 2, 2013: Solar Startup Could Make At-Home Renewable Energy Purchases As Easy As Booking Travel

Dec 2, 2013: Getting Renewable Energy To The Grid

Nov 29, 2013: Algonquin Power To Buy Remaining Stake In 400-MW Wind Portfolio For $117M including the Texas Senate Project

Nov 29, 2013: Rooftop Solar Can Meet 58% Of Peak Power Demand

Nov 28, 2013: Wind Power Is Brought To Justice

Nov 29, 2013: Scientists Seek A Newer, Cheaper Solar Panel

Nov 29, 2013: Is Geothermal the Only Baseload Power Replacement that Makes Sense?

Nov 29, 2013: Solar Data Trove Cutting Power Use in Threat to Utilities

Other News

Dec 5, 2013: Alternative Fuel Grant Funding Available For Propane Autogas Fueling Stations in Texas

Dec 3, 2013: US Federal Court Vacates FERC Decision On MISO-SPP Agreement

Dec 3, 2013: Water Watch for Electric Energy Production

Dec 2, 2013: Texas Company Buys Five Ameren Plants in Illionis

Nov 29, 2013: FERC Amends Pro Forma SGIP and SGIA

Nov 29, 2013: Now Where’s the Uranium Going to Come From?

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For the Week of  11/22/13 — 11/29/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

ERCOT May Delay Its Capacity, Demand, and Reserves (CDR) Report by Two Months
Copyright 2013 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

At the last ERCOT Board meeting, on 11/19/13, there was a discussion about the issuance of the next Capacity, Demand, and Reserves (CDR) report, planned for 12/1/13.  The discussion and uncertainty about the load data led the Board Chair to recommend delaying the report, until after the next Board meeting, on 12/10/13.  This would give members an opportunity to review the results of the revised load forecast and compare them to the previous methodology.  A few days after that, Reuters reported on a statement by ERCOT’s CEO Trip Doggett that the CDR may be delayed by up to two months, because of the decision to let the revised load data go through the stakeholder review.  Consequently, the just-issued agenda for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting on 12/3/13, features as one of the first items an update on the “Process for Finalizing the Load Forecast Methodology for the CDR Report.”  It is not, however, shown as a voting item.

Does ERCOT Need New Ancillary Services?   
Copyright 2013 by Competitive Assets, LLC.  All rights reserved

Earlier this year, ERCOT staff undertook a comprehensive redesign of the existing Ancillary Services and published a white paper with the new proposal on 9/30/13.  Since then, they held a workshop to discuss the proposed services and implementation, revised the paper, and received comments.  A second workshop has been planned for 12/13/13.  Read the details of the proposal and preliminary stakeholder discussions in the latest issue of the Texas Electric Watch. To read more,, please subscribe to Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue (including the supplemental issue), please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Nov 26, 2013: Luminant to Pay $750,000 Under Settlement with Texas Staff

Nov 25, 2013: Berkshire Said to Reduce Its Energy Future Bond Stake

Nov 25, 2013: Newly Released Documents Shed Light On Feds’ Case Against Luminant

Generation Adequacy

Nov 26, 2013: Cold Pushes Texas Electricity Use To New Record For November

Nov 26, 2013: Texas Regulators Warned Against Power Capacity Market Without Legislator Support

Nov 26, 2013: Industry Group Proposes Alternative To Capacity Market In Texas

Nov 26, 2013: Industrial Group Calls Power Plan Too Costly

Nov 25, 2013: Manufacturers Strongly Oppose Moving Texas Power to a Capacity Market

Nov 25, 2013: On Market Decision, Lawmakers Question PUC’s Authority

Nov 25, 2013: Lawmaker Says Texas Agency Moving Too Fast To Reform Power Market

Nov 25, 2013: Texas House Representative Turner: A Windfall For Power Dealers

Nov 25, 2013: Texas Manufacturers Criticize Proposed Changes To Power Grid

Nov 25, 2013: Wal-Mart, Valero Oppose Texas Capacity Mandate, Would “Increase Costs and Harm Texas Economy”

Nov 25, 2013: Texas Electric Demands Are Slowing, State Grid Chief Says

Nov 25, 2013: Opinion: Capacity Market Facing 1,000 MW Deficit of Existing Resources

Nov 25, 2013: Latest New England Capacity Market Mess Shows Fantasy of “Texas-Style” Capacity Market

Nov 25, 2013: Pressure Mounts Against Corporate Welfare For Texas Electric Industry

Nov 25, 2013: Texas Senators Question Electricity Pricing Plan

Nov 24, 2013: Grid Plan May Overload Power Bills

Headlines

Nov 26, 2013: No Thanksgiving Holiday For Electric Linemen At Rio Grande Electric Co-Op

Nov 26, 2013: Ice Storm Causes Power Outages in West Texas

Nov 26, 2013: Thousands Lose Electricity In Parts Of Texas After Wintry Storms, Crews Work To Restore Power

Nov 26, 2013: Texas REP Offering $100 Incentive for Enrollment

Nov 25, 2013: Thousands Lose Power In Texas After Wintry Storms

Nov 25, 2013: Ex-Texas Comptroller’s Employee Mary Jo Woodall Takes Plea In Jonestown Energy Fraud Case

Nov 25, 2013: Hacking The Grid: What You Should Know About Cyber Risks

Nov 25, 2013: Power Grid Drill Reveals Dire Predictions

Nov 25, 2013: Oncor Estimates 23,000 Without Power From Storm Damage

Nov 25, 2013: Start-Up Texas REP, Affiliate of Existing Retail Provider, Receives License

Nov 22, 2013: Central Texas Energy Startup’s Stock Jumps In First Day Of Trading

Nov 22, 2013: Council Oks New Seasonal Stabilization Plan To Flatten Peaks, Valleys On LP&L Bills

Nov 21, 2013: PBS To Feature Austin Energy Nationwide

Nov 22, 2013: Price Of Electricity Hit Record For October; Up 42% In Decade

Nov 22, 2013: Exelon, Entergy: Low-Cost Merchant Power Producers For A Market Turn

Nov 22, 2013: House Energy Bills Called Irresponsible By NRDC Official

Renewable Power

Nov 26, 2013: Texas Wind Energy Project Breaks Ground

Nov 26, 2013: Power Failure: Electric Vehicles Top List Of Cars And Trucks That Depreciate The Fastest

Nov 26, 2013: Ecosphere Technologies Receives U.S. Patent for Mobile Solar Power System

Nov 26, 2013: Let The Wind Production Tax Credit Expire

Nov 26, 2013: Solar power dominates October in US

Nov 25, 2013: Fueling Cities with West Texas Wind as CREZ Comes Online

Nov 25, 2013: Your New House In Texas Could Come With Free Solar Panels

Nov 25, 2013: Pattern Energy Rides Wind To Fuel Cash For Dividends

Nov 25, 2013: Lincoln Renewable Starts Construction on Texas Wind Farm

Nov 25, 2013: Wind Farms Continue To Spring Up In Texas Panhandle

Nov 25, 2013: El Paso Electric announces addition of 20kW Van Horn Solar Installation

Nov 25, 2013: Financial Innovation Has Given Residential Solar Much To Be Thankful For This Year

Nov 25, 2013: Duke Energy To Pay US $1 Million In Plea Over Wind Turbine Bird Deaths

Nov 25, 2013: The US Has 43 Nuclear Power Plants’ Worth Of Solar Energy In The Pipeline

Nov 25, 2013: New FERC Rule May ‘Nudge’ States To Modify Distributed Solar Interconnection

Nov 22, 2013: Solarcity Inks New Home Deal With Texas House Builder

Nov 22, 2013: Texas Company To Provide Battery System For Kauai PV Project

Nov 22, 2013: Xcel Energy Receives Approval From New Mexico Regulators For Wind Purchases

Nov 22, 2013: Analysis: Microsoft, Facebook, Google — Powered By Wind

Nov 22, 2013: Patrick: Are Solar Panels Really Facing The Wrong Direction?

Nov 22, 2013: Tesla Test Is A Whoosh Come True

Nov 22, 2013: Wind Energy Threat to Birds Is Overblown

Other News

Nov 25, 2013: Ecom-Energy Receives New License in Texas

Nov 25, 2013: Larson Electronics Introduces 25 Watt LED Waterproof Light

Nov 25, 2013: New Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Provide Opportunity for HyperSolar’s Renewable Hydrogen Technology

Nov 25, 2013: TXU Energy Presents Houston Zoo Lights Continues through Jan. 5, 2014

===============================================================

For the Week of  11/15/13 — 11/22/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Nov 21, 2013: Fidelity Divide Shows Energy Future Debt Knot: Corporate Finance

Generation Adequacy

Nov 21, 2013: Delay Of Texas Summer Reserve Report Could Be Months-Official

Nov 21, 2013: Texas Employer: Capacity Market Would be “Serious Mistake”, Endanger Economic Prosperity

Nov 20, 2013: Texas Grid Agency To Delay 2014 Reserve-Margin Report

Nov 19, 2013: ERCOT Board of Directors Qualify TAS Energy’s Generation Storage as Energy Storage Resource Eligible for Wholesale Load Treatment

Nov 21, 2013: Opinion:Texas Cities Best in Job Creation, Economic Strength (Despite Generators “Talking Down” Texas Business Climate; Capacity Market States Again Absent from Rankings)

Nov 19, 2013: Municipal Groups Knock Proposed Changes In Texas Power Market

Nov 19, 2013: Texas Coalition for Affordable Power: Capacity Market for Electricity Would Result in Higher Bills, More Regulations

Nov 18, 2013: More Texas Economic Engines (TI, Oil Producers) Line Up Against Capacity Market

Nov 18, 2013: Texas Capacity Market Supporter Warns Customers of Added Costs from ISO-NE’s Need to Procure “Backup Generation” (Capacity Market Not Providing Reliability)

Nov 15, 2013: Debating the future of Texas electricity in Dallas

Headlines

Nov 21, 2013: Sam Houston Electric Cooperative Names New Board President

Nov 21, 2013: Exelon Says Competitive Markets Are Most Efficient Way to Ensure a Sustainable Energy Future

Nov 20, 2013: LCRA Names Interim General Manager

Nov 20, 2013: Texas Commission Approves SWEPCO Rates for Increase

Nov 20, 2013: Texas Creates Dockets on Sharing of AMI Data, Customer Info

Nov 20, 2013: Is The Texas State Climatologist Doing His Job?

Nov 21, 2013: Cogeneration Equipment Market Driven By The Increasing Demand For Electrical Power

Nov 19, 2013: Texas PUC Commissioner Cheers Nuclear Waste Fee Ruling

Nov 19, 2013: Verizon To Guard Smart Meters From Hackers

Nov 19, 2013: Clean Air Standards Create Opportunities, Not Problems for Texas

Nov 19, 2013: White House Waves Veto Pen At GOP Fracking, Energy Bills

Nov 19, 2013: Conservative Group To Lawmakers: Your Fracking Vote Counts

Nov 18, 2013: Central Texas Energy Startup Ideal Power Files For Initial Public Stock Offering

Nov 18, 2013: ERCOT to Increase System Admin. Fee

Nov 18, 2013: Champion Energy to Expand Smart Energy Service to Commercial Market in 2014

Nov 18, 2013: Allconnect Acquires Leading Texas based Rival in Broker, Home Service Connection Space

Nov 18, 2013: NextEra Energy Announces Common Stock Offering

Nov 18, 2013: TEPA Panel: Current Retail Market Climate Not Sustainable, “Something Has to Give”

Nov 19, 2013: Reinventing Retail Energy –- Taking Customer Focus to a New Level 

Nov 17, 2013: What’s Stronger Than Nuclear Power? Falling Electricity Prices

Nov 18, 2013: DOE To Resume Transient Testing Of Nuclear Fuels And Materials

Nov 17, 2013: Is THIS the Biggest Invention of the Decade?

Nov 15, 2013: BBB On Homes: Beware Of Billing Scheme Targeting Electricity Customers

Nov 14, 2013: Whitfield’s Subcommittee Reviews EPA’s Unworkable Power Plant Proposal And Bipartisan Legislative Solution

Nov 14, 2013: Gridex II Simulates Security Breach To U.S. Power Grid

Renewable Power

Nov 21, 2013: ERCAM Delivers Trackers To First Phase Of Alamo I Solar Project In Texas

Nov 21, 2013: Wind Farm Bill Would Let Utilities, Developers Be Sued

Nov 21, 2013: Affordable Solar Power Is Focus Of New Research

Nov 21, 2013: US Installed 504MW Of Solar Power In October: FERC

Nov 19, 2013: Colleyville Man Accused In Wind Farm Scam

Nov 19, 2013: Texas, The Wind Friendly State?

Nov 18, 2013: Could First U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Be In Texas

Nov 18, 2013: One Stop Shop For Solar In Austin, Texas

Nov 18, 2013: Report: Residential Solar Systems Reduce Summer Peak Demand by Over 50% in Texas research trial

Nov 18, 2013: Pecan Street’s Study Shows Electric Vehicles Won’t Overload the Electric Grid.

Nov 18, 2013: A New Scale For Green

Nov 15, 2013: Coal Plant Shutdowns Create Market For Wind Power Project

Nov 18, 2013: Obama Admin. Not Prosecuting Wind Farms For Bird Deaths

Nov 17, 2013: Ed Markey’s First Senate Bill Aims To Ramp Up Renewables

Nov 15, 2013: Google’s Latest Solar Projects Turn It A Deeper Shade Of Green

Nov 15, 2013: Xcel Energy Approved For Wind-Power Project

Nov 15, 2013: EPA Action Adds Fuel To Renewable Debate

Nov 15, 2013: Almost Everyone Is Angling Solar Panels The Wrong Way

Nov 15, 2013: Turning Old Oil Fields Into Renewable Power Plants, Thanks To CO2

Nov 14, 2013: Is It Really That Simple? Study Finds Cheap Solution To Increasing Solar Power

Nov 14, 2013: Pattern Energy’s Mike Garland on Wind Energy Subsidies

Nov 14, 2013: Congressman Pompeo: End the Wind Production Tax Credit

Other News

Nov 21, 2013: Iberdrola Re-organizes All U.S. Operations Under Single Holding Company

Nov 20, 2013: Direct Energy Launches Residential Service in New Territories

Nov 19, 2013: Company Said to Be First to Offer Flexible Synchronous Reserves for PJM Demand Response Customers

Nov 15, 2013: Mixed Result: Arizona Keeps Net Metering, But Levies Smaller Solar Fee

===========================================================================================

For the Week of  11/8/13 — 11/15/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Nov 8, 2013: Luminant Suspends Nuclear Plant Licensing Effort In Texas

Nov 8, 2013: Luminant To End Work On License For New North Texas Reactors

Nov 5, 2013: Energy Future Default Possible by Year-End, CreditSights Says

Generation Adequacy

Nov 15, 2013: Drivers of Texas Economic Growth Say Mandating a Reserve Margin Premature

Nov 13, 2013: ERCOT Panel Keeps Alive Proposal To Ban Intra-Day Offer Changes

Nov 13, 2013: Texas REP: NRG’s Actions Show Energy-Only Market Driving Investment in Capacity; REP Also Says Legislature Did Not Intend for ERCOT to Run “Capacity” Market

Headlines

Nov 15, 2013: Direct Energy Parent: Margins in Texas Reduced due to “Intensified” Competition

Nov 15, 2013: Agreement in Principle Reached in Sharyland Unbundling Case (May Allow Implementation of Choice on Schedule)

Nov 13, 2013: Fitch Publishes Utilities, Power, and Gas Monthly Rating Report

Nov 14, 2013: Attack Ravages Power Grid. (Just A Test.)

Nov 14, 2013: Energy Mergers, Yes. Neglected Grid? Probably Not

Nov 13, 2013: AEP Electricity Consumers Are Reminded: Don’t Fall Victim To The “Green Dot” Scam

Nov 13, 2013: Fitch Publishes Utilities, Power, and Gas Monthly Rating Report

Nov 13, 2013: Grid Drill: Preparedness To Be Focus

Nov 13, 2013: ITC Holdings Corp. Declares Dividend to Shareholders

Nov 13, 2013: Americans Back Greenhouse Gas Cuts From Power Plants

Nov 13, 2013: Future for Texas Ratepayers? Customers File FERC Complaint Over “Unjust and Unreasonable” Transmission Rates in MISO

Nov 13, 2013: Opinion: NRG: Retail Not Even a “Secondary” Consideration in Edison Mission Acquisition; But Does Allow a Second Look at Municipal Aggregation Market

Nov 12, 2013: Choose Energy Names E-commerce Executive Kerry Cooper as New CEO

Nov 11, 2013: What’s Holding Back Nuclear Energy

Nov 11, 2013: Combined Heat and Power Emerging as Key Technology for Microgrid Resiliency

Nov 12, 2013: AEP To Spend Billions Shoring Up Power Grid

Nov 12, 2013: Texas REP Launches New Discount Program for Military

Nov 12, 2013: NRG Reports Significant Slowdown in Retail Customer Growth; Texas Mass Market Margins “Steady”

Nov 11, 2013: Just Energy: Retail Suppliers “Will Only Stay Relevant If They Are Bundling”

Nov 7, 2013: Council Approves Rate Boost For CPS

Nov 11, 2013: Texas Staff File Draft Proposal for Adoption Concerning REPs’ Obligations When Disconnecting Multi-Family Dwellings

Nov 11, 2013: Calpine Names New CEO To Take Over In May

Nov 11, 2013: American Electric Power Narrows 2014 Operating Earnings

Nov 11, 2013: Reinvent the Co-op Safety Committee

Nov 12, 2013: America and Israel Created a Monster Computer Virus Which Now Threatens Nuclear Reactors Worldwide

Nov 8, 2013: Utech To Become Obama’s Top Climate, Energy Adviser

Nov 11, 2013: Utilities Are Now In the Business Of Protecting National Security

Renewable Power

Nov 14, 2013: Fact Check: 5 Things Bjoern Lomborg Gets Wrong About Federal Incentives Supporting Wind Power

Nov 14, 2013: Texas A&M Professor Balog Gives Invited Talk At Alternative Energy Symposium

Nov 14, 2013: Solar Plants Are Burning Birds’ Wings

Nov 14, 2013: Solar Working Group Releases Standard Contracts

Nov 13, 2013: Microsoft Signs A 20-Yr Pact For Wind Energy In Texas

Nov 13, 2013: Brian Janous: The Texas Tribune Interview

Nov 11, 2013: Solar Power Begins to Shine as Environmental Benefits Pay Off

Nov 11, 2013: The Hunt for Biofuels Looks Beyond Ethanol

Nov 12, 2013: Tesla’s Musk: Stock’s High Price Was A Distraction, Seems A Better Deal Now

Nov 11, 2013: Tea Party’s Green Faction Fights for Solar in Red States

Nov 11, 2013: Xcel Continues to Attack Rooftop Solar

Nov 12, 2013: We Energies’ 50-MW Facility Biomass Plant Now Produces Renewable Energy From Woody Biomass

Nov 10, 2013: Energy Analyst Describes Where Uncle Sam’s Money Is: Renewables

Nov 8, 2013: Solar Liberator Uses Crowd Funding to Launch Plug-in Solar Solution

Nov 7, 2013: Wireless Device Converts ‘Lost’ Energy Into Electric Power

Nov 11, 2013: The Secret, Dirty Cost of Obama’s Green Power Push

Nov 11, 2013: U.S. Military On Cutting Edge Of Energy Efficiency And Smart Conservation Technologies

Nov 11, 2013: Ford And Microsoft Invest In $1 Billion Bond For Climate Projects

========================================================================

For the Week of  11/1/13 — 11/8/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Nov 3, 2013: Schnurman: Regulation All Bad? It’s Softening Impact Of Energy Future Holdings’ Fall

Oct 31, 2013: Energy Future Debt Payment Risks Ire of Creditors as March Looms

Nov 2, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Posts First Profit In 3 Years

Nov 2, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Breaks Long String Of Losses, Post $5 Million Profit

Nov 1, 2013: Oncor Schedules Third Quarter 2013 Investor Call

Generation Adequacy

Nov 7, 2013: Opinion: Texas Capacity Market Supporter Continues to Call New Capacity Investments in PJM Capacity Market “Questionable”, Again Says New Plants “Unlikely to be Completed”

Nov 5, 2013: Bennett: Idea For ‘Capacity Market’ In Electricity Would Hurt Us All

Nov 4, 2013: This Electricity Market Change Could Cost Texans Billions and Pollute the Air

Nov 3, 2013: ERCOT Expects Sufficient Electricity This Winter and Next Spring

Nov 1, 2013: Texas Grid Operator Predicts Plenty Of Winter Power

Nov 3, 2013: ERCOT Expects Sufficient Electricity This Winter and Next Spring

Headlines

Nov 7, 2013: Natural Gas Or Nuclear Among Choices For CPS Energy

Nov 7, 2013: Family Of Dead CPS Lineman Sues Utility

Nov 7, 2013: Just Energy Sees Decline in Mass Market Customer Base; Gross Additions Slower on Margin Discipline

Nov 7, 2013: EPA Pollution Meeting Yields Sharply Different Views

Nov 7, 2013: David Hudson To Take Top Leadership Role At SPS

Nov 6, 2013: Christi Craddick: Texans Ask To Give Input To EPA Regarding Emission Standards

Nov 6, 2013: Reasonable Power Plant Rules Will Strengthen Texas Economy Says NMA

Nov 6, 2013: Texas TDU Reports “Strong” Customer Growth

Nov 6, 2013: Fitch Rates MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co.’s $2B Sr. Unsecured Notes ‘BBB+’; Outlook Stable

Nov 6, 2013: El Paso Electric Announces Third Quarter Financial Results

Nov 6, 2013: NRG Said to Invest in Energy Management/Technology Company, And Home Energy Services Firm

Nov 5, 2013: Fitch Rates Calpine’s 5.875% Senior Notes Due 2024 ‘BB+/RR1’

Nov 4, 2013: Texas REPs Warn of “Rate Shock” — from Potential Delay in Sharyland Transition to Competition

Nov 4, 2013: Texas TDU to Cease Billing Hurricane Charge Applicable to REPs

Nov 4, 2013: Measuring Attorney General Candidates on Smart Meters

Oct 31, 2013: Direct Energy Launches Postpay Free Saturdays Product in Texas (Expands from Prepay Only)

Oct 31, 2013: Sharyland Files List Of Default REPs For Its Customers Who Do Not Select A REP Prior To The Transition Of its Brady, Celeste, Colorado City, And Stanton Divisions To The Competitive Electric Market

Nov 3, 2013: Texas QSE to Pay $12,500 to Resolve Failure to Deploy EILS

Oct 31, 2013: RUS Loans Help Co-ops Upgrade Grid

Oct 31, 2013: Post Sandy, U.S. Pushes Microgrids For Backup Power

Nov 1, 2013: Bill Would Restrict EPA’s Power Plant Rules

Renewable Power

Nov 7, 2013: Texas Emerges As Unlikely Leader On Wind Power

Nov 7, 2013: Texas Offers Road To Rebates

Nov 7, 2013: Yet Another Model S Fire Puts Heat On Tesla

Nov 7, 2013: Why Is Google Helping The Kochs Attack Wind Power?

Nov 7, 2013: Wal-Mart, Champion Of Solar Power?

Nov 6, 2013: Some Texans Soon Can Claim $2,500 Rebates On Cleaner-Fuel Cars

Nov 6, 2013: Graph Of The Day: US Wind Power Gets Kick From Falling Prices

Nov 6, 2013: Conservative Groups Want Congress To Let Wind Tax Credit Expire

Nov 5, 2013: French Firm Buys Texas Panhandle Area Wind Farm

Nov 5, 2013: National Science Foundation $400K Grant Supports UTSA Wind Energy Research

Nov 5, 2013: Wind Tax Credit Could Take A Big Hit In Tax Battle

Nov 5, 2013: Flat Tire For Tesla: Shares Slide After Earnings

Nov 5, 2013: On-Site Power May Weaken Centrally-Generated Wind And Solar Energy

Nov 4, 2013: EDF Renewable Energy Reaches Agreement to Acquire Longhorn Wind Project

Nov 4, 2013: Microsoft To Buy Wind Power For Data Center In Texas

Nov 4, 2013: Microsoft Enters 20-Year Deal For Texas Wind Power

Nov 4, 2013: Power Plants Try Burning Wood With Coal to Cut Carbon Emissions

Nov 4, 2013: Wind Energy: Staggering Turbines Improves Performance 33%

Nov 4, 2013: Will SolarCity Beat Out First Solar and SunPower?

Nov 2, 2013: Sold On Solar Power

Nov 3, 2013: Texas’ Lead In Wind Power Is About To Grow

Nov 2, 2013: Little Fanfare For Texas’ $7 Billion Clean-Energy Project

Nov 1, 2013: Sales, Backlog Hit Records For Wind Tower Maker

Nov 1, 2013: Utilities Across The U.S. Are Cashing In On The Lower Price Of Wind Power

Nov 1, 2013: Wind Power Installations Down 96% In Q3 From 2012, But Orders Looking Up

Oct 31, 2013: U.S. Wind Power Slumps in 2013 After Tax Credit Drives 2012 Boom

Nov 2, 2013: Battle Of The Plug-In Hybrids: Accord, Volt And Fusion Energi

Nov 1, 2013: Apple Plans To Plug Iphones Directly Into Solar Panels For Power

Nov 1, 2013: New “Flexible” Power Plants Sway to Keep Up with Renewables

Other News

Nov 7, 2013: Smitherman Brags On Texas, Oil Production

Nov 7, 2013: Driving Hunger Out Of Rural Texas

Nov 4, 2013: Downtown Drivers May See Detours As Oncor Inspects Infrastructure

Nov 3, 2013: Direct Energy Completes Acquisition of Retail Book

Nov 3, 2013: Squirrel Causes 4,700 To Lose Power In Dallas

Nov 2, 2013: Texas Tech Powering the South Plains

Nov 3, 2013: Direct Energy Completes Acquisition of Retail Book

Nov 3, 2013: Squirrel Causes 4,700 To Lose Power In Dallas

================================================================================

For the Week of  10/18/13 — 10/25/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Oct 25, 2013: Buyout Firms Clash Over Energy Future Holdings, the Biggest-Ever LBO

Oct 24, 2013: EFH Restructuring Talks Expand, Forge On Ahead Of Looming Payment

Oct 24, 2013: Oncor insulated against EFH bankruptcy, Moody’s says

Oct 24, 2013: TCEQ Rejects Doctor’s Claims On Luminant Coal Plants

Oct 22, 2013: The Biggest Leveraged Buyout In History Is On The Brink Of Collapse—And Fracking Is To Blame

Oct 22, 2013: How Did Energy Future Holdings Fail?

Oct 21, 2013: No Matter What, Energy Future Holdings Will Keep Lights On

Oct 22, 2013: KKR to Goldman Skirmish for Scraps as LBO Bankruptcy Looms

Oct 19, 2013: Energy Future’s Reduced Earnings to Sap Credit Recovery Values

Generation Adequacy

Oct 24, 2013: Opinion: Investors Say They’re Willing to Take on Risk of Texas New Build — Then Advocate Market Design Eliminating Any Substantive Risk

Oct 24, 2013: Opinion: Merchant Generator Cites “Inability” of Capacity Markets to Appropriately Pay Long-Term Investors

Oct 23, 2013: Opinion: Texas Capacity Owners Misrepresent Position of Independent Market Monitor in Pushing for Capacity Market

Oct 23, 2013: Opinion: Texas REP: Capacity Market Would Allow Capacity-Owning REPs to Put Me Out of Business

Oct 21, 2013: Vanadium Flow Batteries Could Become a Cost Effective Solution for Balancing Texas’ Power Grid

Oct 18, 2013: ERCOT Overhauling Power Forecasting Methods For Texas

Oct 20, 2013: Hunker: PUC Should Make The Right Call

Oct 21, 2013: GDF SUEZ Proposes Increasing ERCOT Value of Lost Load to $25,000 due to Use of Cumulative Distribution Function in Operating Reserves Demand Curve

Headlines

Oct 24, 2013: Texas Gives Tesla the Cold Shoulder

Oct 24, 2013: Nuclear Technology In Your Life Today

Oct 24, 2013: EPA: Texas Still No. 1 In Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Oct 24, 2013: EPA, EIA: Power Plant Carbon Emissions Saw Drastic Drop in 2012

Oct 23, 2013: Texas Smart Meters become Money Meters

Oct 23, 2013: Nuevo Midstream Selects Broker for Electricity Supply Management in Texas

Oct 23, 2013: Scammers Increasingly Using Texas Retail Providers’ Names in Disconnection Payment Con

Oct 23, 2013: Texas Rejects Dallas County Doctors’ Bid To Cut Coal Pollution

Oct 23, 2013: Centerpoint Energy Declares $0.2075 Quarterly Dividend

Oct 23, 2013: AEP Reports Falling Electric Sales, Sees Mostly Flat Load Growth

Oct 23, 2013: El Paso County To Intervene In Proposed Montana Power Plant

Oct 23, 2013: Sakelaris: Zero Oil Imports Is The Goal, Smitherman Tells Energy Execs

Oct 23, 2013: Hackers Targeting Energy Subcontractors For Big Steals

Oct 23, 2013: US Power Plant GHG Emissions Down 10pc Since 2010

Oct 23, 2013: Emission Information Said to be Engaged by NRG for Mobile App for Retail Customers

Oct 22, 2013: AEP Increases Quarterly Dividend To 50 Cents A Share

Oct 22, 2013: CPS Energy Lineman Dies After Fall From Pole

Oct 22, 2013: El Paso Electric To Break Ground On Multimillion-Dollar Operations Center In East El Paso

Oct 22, 2013: Duke Energy Declares Quarterly Dividend

Oct 22, 2013: US Nuclear Plants Rely on By-product of China, Russia’s Nuclear Weapons

Oct 22, 2013: U.S. Carbon Emissions Fell Sharply In 2012. But Don’t Expect That To Last

Oct 22, 2013: Texas Complaint Addresses Average Pricing for Time of Use Product

Oct 22, 2013: NRG: “Testing” Beacon 10 Gas/Solar-Powered Distributed Gen Tech in Homes, Businesses

Oct 22, 2013: Source Power & Gas Launches Online Enrollment for Small Businesses

Oct 21, 2013: NRG Energy Agrees to Buy Edison Mission for $2.6 Billion

Oct 21, 2013: ‘War On Coal’ Good For Natural Gas Industry As U.S. Prepares To Expand Power Plant Network

Oct 21, 2013: Utilities Roll Out Distribution Automation as Key Smart-Grid Element

Oct 21, 2013: Texas Staff Propose Changes to REP Certification Rules

Oct 18, 2013: Battery system dedicated at Reese Technology Center at Lubbock

Oct 19, 2013: Cause Of October GEUS Power Plant Blast Found

Oct 18, 2013: Lubbock Mayor Robertson Seeks Investigation Into Lubbock Power & Light’s 2019 Power Search

Oct 18, 2013: FERC Issues Reports on Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering

Oct 18, 2013: James L. Robo Appointed Chairman of NextEra Energy

Oct 18, 2013: Electrical Grid Is Called Vulnerable to Power Shutdown

Oct 18, 2013: Power Plant Plight: US Utilities’ Soft Underbelly For Hackers

Oct 18, 2013: FERC Signs Off On Revisions To Transmission Planning Reliability Standard

Renewable Power

Oct 24, 2013: Pecan Street Study: Electric Vehicles Might Not Stress Grids

Oct 24, 2013: Will Texas Wind Farms Miss Out On Key Tax Incentive?

Oct 24, 2013: Wind Energy Tax Credit Likely Over, But Effect May Not Hurt Like Before

Oct 23, 2013: Wind Energy Proving Itself A Critical Solution To Achieve Large, Long-Lasting Reductions In Carbon Pollution

Oct 23, 2013: DOE Announces $60 Million to Drive Affordable, Efficient Solar Power

Oct 23, 2013: Is It Finally Time for Solar?

Oct 23, 2013: US Companies’ Use of Solar Increases 40% Over 2012

Oct 22, 2013: Meet The Super Efficient Lego® Brick-Like Solar Panel

Oct 22, 2013: NRG Energy Introduces Solar Canopy to Extend Energy Independence Beyond the Rooftop

Oct 22, 2013: Wind Power Proves Effective CO2 Saver

Oct 22, 2013: Wind Can Supply Energy For Turbines From An Unexpected Direction

Oct 22, 2013: US Air Force Pilots New Solar Energy Storage System

Oct 22, 2013: US Solar Industry Must Silence Its Enemies, Says SEIA Chief

Oct 21, 2013: Austin Energy Seeks Solar Addition

Oct 21, 2013: Tax Credit for Texas Wind Could Lapse

Oct 22, 2013: NRG Energy Introduces Solar Canopy Solution

Oct 22, 2013: Parent of Retail Supplier Makes Investment in OneRoof Energy

Oct 21, 2013: Principal Solar Names Former Oncor Executive Brenda Jackson to Board of Directors

Oct 21, 2013: Empowering Schools with Solar Energy: NRDC’s First Crowd-Funded Campaign

Oct 21, 2013: The Rapid Recovery Of American Wind Power

Oct 21, 2013: Solar Power to the People: The Rise of Rooftop Solar Among the Middle Class

Oct 21, 2013: Global Non-Energy Companies Out To Harness Solar Power

Oct 21, 2013: More than 600 Companies to Demonstrate the Latest Solar Energy Products, Technology and Solutions this Week at Solar Power International in Chicago

Oct 21, 2013: Time to Consider Solar Net Metering Alternatives: Storage

Oct 18, 2013: Two Wind Power Projects To Be Built In Starr County, Effect On Local Birds Questionable

Oct 19, 2013: New Lines To Take Wind Power From West Texas To Rest Of State

Oct 18, 2013: Texas Finishing Up Transmission Lines to Double Energy From Wind

Oct 18, 2013: A Staff of Robots Can Clean and Install Solar Panels

Oct 18, 2013: Where Is Wind Energy Cheaper than Natural Gas?

Oct 18, 2013: Global Wind Market Slowly Closes In On 300 GW Milestone

Oct 18, 2013: Into the Sun: Trade Group Study Says Businesses Are Sold on Solar

Oct 18, 2013: U.S. Renewables Outpace Coal, Oil And Nuclear Combined

Other News

Oct 22, 2013: Barry Smitherman’s Stint on the Texas Railroad Commission Is a Magnificent Fundraising Tool

==================================================================================

For the Week of  10/11/13 — 10/18/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Oct 17, 2013: Watchdog: Energy Future Holdings Bankruptcy Could Place Texas Taxpayers on the Hook

Oct 17, 2013: Energy Future’s Pre-Bankruptcy Talks Continue as Lender Leaves

Oct 16, 2013: Oncor Lower Earnings Forecast Cuts Valuation, CreditSights Says

Oct 16, 2013: Green Groups Seek Assurances Energy Future Can Clean Up Coal Mines

Oct 17, 2013: Environmentalists Criticize EFH, Regulators Over Mining Reclamation

Oct 15, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Says Unsecured Creditors Not Participating In Restructuring Talks

Oct 15, 2013: Energy Future, (Formerly TXU), Says No Deal Yet; Some Creditors Retreat From Talks

Oct 15, 2013: Creditors Squabble Over Utility’s Future

Oct 15, 2013: TXU Parent Forecasting Lower Retail Revenues, as Various Restructuring Proposals Made Public

Oct 14, 2013: Energy Future Creditors Still At Odds On Bankruptcy Talks -Sources

Oct 14, 2013: EFH Creditors Can’t Agree On Reworking Massive Debt

Oct 15, 2013: TXU Parent Forecasting Lower Retail Revenues, as Various Restructuring Proposals Made Public

Generation Adequacy

Oct 16, 2013: FERC Schedules Technical Conference To Address PJM Demand Response Proposal

Oct 15, 2013: PUC Member Hints At Adopting Mandatory Power Reserves

Oct 15, 2013: Key Decision On Possible Changes To Texas Power Market May Come In Early ’14, Official Says

Oct 10, 2013: Power Prices Move Mixed; ERCOT Runs $5 Higher With Demand Outlook

Headlines

Oct 17, 2013: CPS Energy Brings Deely Unit Back After September Explosion

Oct 17, 2013: Calpine Corporation Announces Cash Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation for Its 7.25% Senior Secure

Oct 17, 2013: Calpine Corporation Announces Upsizing and Pricing of Senior Secured Notes Offering

Oct 17, 2013: EBay, Ellison Embrace Microgrids in Threat to Utilities

Oct 17, 2013: Why Colleges Are Big Believers In Microgrids

Oct 17, 2013: Here’s Exactly How A Cyberattack Will Bring Down Your Utility

Oct 17, 2013: Researchers Uncover Holes That Open Power Stations to Hacking

Oct 16, 2013: NRG Energy, Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend

Oct 16, 2013: Combating Climate Change With Nuclear Power And Fracking

Oct 16, 2013: Supreme Court’s EPA Ruling A Setback For Obama’s Climate Action Plan To Reduce Carbon Emissions By 17%?

Oct 15, 2013: GEUS Board Considers Plans In The Event Of An Extended Government Shutdown

Oct 15, 2013: Report Tallies Texas Nuclear Plant Violations

Oct 15, 2013: PUCT Commission Discusses REP Complaint Issue

Oct 15, 2013: Supreme Court to Hear Texas Challenge to Greenhouse Gas Regulations

Oct 15, 2013: Entergy Provides Preliminary Third Quarter Earnings Guidance

Oct 15, 2013: NextEra: A Quality Utility For Both Growth And Income

Oct 15, 2013: Why So Many Dams In Texas Are in Bad Condition

Oct 15, 2013: Electric Companies Brace For New Worker Safety Rules

Oct 15, 2013: Time to Act — Climate Science is Clear

Oct 15, 2013: Severe Weather, Climate Change Not Linked

Oct 13, 2013: After Decades Of Doubt, Deregulation Delivers Lower Electricity Prices

Oct 14, 2013:  U.S. FERC Sues Barclays Over Power Market Manipulation

Oct 12, 2013: In The World Of Texas Electricity, Free Is Not Always Free

Oct 14, 2013: $7 Billion Crez Project Nears Finish, Aiding Wind Power

Renewable Power

Oct 17, 2013: Zenn Motor Company Reports Inconsistent Test Results On Electricity Storage

Oct 17, 2013: Clean Energy Investment Headed for Second Annual Decline

Oct 17, 2013: New Power Lines Set To Transform Texas Wind Energy Market

Oct 17, 2013: Walmart Tops US Solar Rankings With 89.43MW Capacity

Oct 17, 2013: IKEA Ranked In The Top 25 US Commercial Solar Users

Oct 16, 2013: Texas Leads Nation In Wind Energy Production Sweetwater Mayor Says

Oct 16, 2013: Texas Gulf Coast Beckons Wind Farms

Oct 16, 2013: Southwest Power Pool Grid Keeps Breaking Wind Energy Records

Oct 16, 2013: Only One U.S. Wind Farm Came Online During The Third Quarter

Oct 16, 2013: Majority of American Consumers Would Consider Residential Solar Installations, Even When Educated on Costs

Oct 15, 2013: Market Report On U.S. Wind Technologies In Distributed Applications

Oct 15, 2013: U.S. DOE Highlights Wind Energy Financing Model by United Wind

Oct 15, 2013: The Air Up There: Wind Energy Remote Sensing Gains Ground

Oct 15, 2013: Study: Wind Power Costs Taxpayers Billions of Dollars

Oct 15, 2013: Small Business Receives Last Contract For Geothermal Technology From The Army

Oct 15, 2013: New Report Shows Top U.S. Companies Investing Big in Solar

Oct 15, 2013: The US Corporate Boom In Solar Power Explained In Five Charts

Oct 14, 2013: Showcasing Solar Power: Free Home Tour Set For This Weekend

Oct 14, 2013: Triboelectric Generator Sources Power From The Sea

Oct 14, 2013:Report Highlights Investments Coming Into The Solar Energy Field

Oct 11, 2013: How Bill Gates Invested in Smart Grid Technology

Other News

Oct 17, 2013: Broker Names Former Hudson, Direct Energy Sales Exec as New President

============================================================================================

For the Week of  10/4/13 — 10/11/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Oct 10, 2013: Energy Future Holdings, Texas’ Biggest Power Generator, May File for Bankruptcy This Month

Oct 10, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Reportedly Close To $3B Loan

Oct 10, 2013: Energy Future Said Near Bankruptcy Loan Exceeding $3 Billion

Oct 9, 2013: Who’s Who of TXU (Advisers)

Oct 9, 2013: Fidelity Fails To Convince Fellow EFH Creditors Over Debt Restructuring Proposal

Oct 8, 2013: Energy Future Term Loan Drops Before November Coupon Payment Due

Oct 8, 2013: Fidelity Pitches Other Creditors on Energy Future Restructuring Plan

Generation Adequacy

Oct 10, 2013: ERCOT OKs Luminant Plan To Mothball Texas Coal Unit

Oct 10, 2013: ERCOT Approves Luminant To Partially Suspend 750 MW Coal-Fired Unit

Oct 10, 2013: Opinion: Electric Markets Research Foundation Releases Initial Report and Gets ERCOT Offer Cap Wrong

Oct 9, 2013: Texas Utility Commission To Weigh Changes To Market

Oct 9, 2013: Report: Correcting for Load Forecast Errors “Debunks” Myth ERCOT Facing Resource Adequacy Shortage

Oct 8, 2013: Texas Power Providers Seek Fees To Insure Generation Reserves

Oct 8, 2013: Debate Over State’s Power Reserves Raises More Questions

Oct 8, 2013: Resource Adequacy Hype Doesn’t Fit the Facts

Oct 8, 2013: 2011: Calpine Says “Far Too Soon” to Know Whether PJM Capacity Market A Success or Failure — Says Capacity Market Has “Proven Track Record” One Year Later

Oct 8, 2013: Opinion: Texas Market Monitor: “Not Sure” Any Capacity Market a “Good Facilitator” of Decision to Invest

Oct 8, 2013: Opinion: Texas Energy Consultant Details Innovative Generation Development Under Current Market Design

Oct 8, 2013: Koch Industries Unit To Buy Power Plant In West Texas

Oct 8, 2013: Koch Industries Unit To Buy 1,055 MW Gas-Fired Power Plant In Texas

Oct 8, 2013: Texas Representative Sylvester Turner Files Comments with PUCT before Today’s Resource Adequate Workshop

Oct 7, 2013: Moravec: Perils Of This Electricity Plan in ERCOT

Oct 7, 2013: Changes In ERCOT Electricity Market Carry Risks

Oct 7, 2013: PUCT Staff Posts Final Agenda for Today’s (10/8/13) Workshop on Resource Adequacy Project

Oct 7, 2013: PUCT Staff Posts Agenda for Oct 17 Workshop for Project No. 41641, Regarding Potential Impact of the Increases to the System-Wide Offer Cap on Retail Markets

Oct 7, 2013: Olivine, VEIC, and EnergyHub Join the Association for DR Smart Grid

Oct 6, 2013: PUCT New Commissioner’s Mission: Affordable, Reliable Power

Oct 7, 2013: Texas TDUs: Retail Electric Provider Capital Requirements Should Be Raised, If There Are Additional Risks in Market

Oct 4, 2013: Texas Developer Guadalupe Receives Air Quality Approval For New Gas Turbines

 Headlines

Oct 10, 2013: Gov. Perry Appoints Baer to Office of Public Utility Counsel

Oct 10, 2013: Former PUCT Staffer Appointed to OPUC

Oct 10, 2013: Texas Regulators Take First Steps to Acquire Greenhouse Gas Permitting Authority

Oct 10, 2013: Report: American Electric Power Expects Stable Natural Gas, Volatile Coal Prices

Oct 9, 2013: Texas REP Would Pay $60,000 to Resolve Staff Investigation

Oct 9, 2013: FERC Alleges Violations by Constellation Division

Oct 9, 2013: SPP Set To Launch Transmission Congestion Rights As Market Redesign Progresses

Oct 8, 2013: El Paso Electric Announces Executive Appointments

Oct 8, 2013: CPS Cutting Rate-boost Bid 0.5%

Oct 8, 2013: Bonuses at CPS To Again Decrease

Oct 8, 2013: Proton Energy Formally Responds to Texas Staff Petition to Revoke REP Certificate

Oct 7, 2013: U.S. Supreme Court Won’t Hear Luminant Appeal On Emissions

Oct 7, 2013: Fitch Rates Lower Colorado River Authority’s Rev Bonds ‘A’; Outlook Stable

Oct 7, 2013: West Texas Better Prepared For An Energy Boom, Railroad Commissioner Says

Oct 7, 2013: Texas REP Seeks to Mandate $2 Million Shareholders’ Equity, $1 Million Letter of Credit for Certification as REP

Oct 7, 2013: EPA Must Reveal Papers on Luminant Oversight

Oct 5, 2013: Texas Regulators Approve Cost Recovery For SWEPCO’s Turk, Stall Plants

Oct 5, 2013: Comanche Peak’s Declining Value Proves Costly For Once-Flush Somervell County

Renewable Power

Oct 10, 2013: Gamesa To Equip Texas Wind Project With Wind Turbines

Oct 10, 2013: Solar Power When The Sun Goes Down

Oct 9, 2013: Gamesa to Supply Iberdrola Wind Farm in Texas With 202 Megawatts

Oct 9, 2013: Gamesa Will Deliver 101 G97-2.0 MW Wind Turbines In The Baffin Wind Farm Project, In Southern Texas

Oct 9, 2013: VW Selects Retail Supplier to Offer Green Power to EV Owners

Oct 9, 2013: American Wind Energy Association’s Statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the wind energy Production Tax Credit

Oct 9, 2013: Will a New Guide for Regulators Settle the Debate About the Value of Rooftop Solar?

Oct 9, 2013: Battery-Stored Solar Power Sparks Backlash From Utilities

Oct 8, 2013: At SWSX ECO, NRG Energy Imagines An Eco Friendly Home Electric Generator

Oct 8, 2013: The Wind Behind Wind Power: Goodbye, PTC; Hello, Carbon Tax

Oct 8, 2013: Wind Turbine Blade Maker Ramps Up In US

Oct 7, 2013: New Proposals, New Hurdles For Mcallen’s Electric Bus Project

Oct 7, 2013: At Taylor High School, Students Experiment With Solar, Wind Power

Oct 7, 2013: Texas Launches Initiative To Promote Electric Vehicles

Oct 7, 2013: Battery-Stored Solar Power Sparks Backlash From Utilities

Oct 7, 2013: Margins Tightening As Solar Markets Mature

Oct 7, 2013: Update on US Wind: Most Components Made in USA

Oct 7, 2013: Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturer Adds U.S. Production And Jobs

Oct 4, 2013: Honda Selects S.A. For Hybrid Launch Partly For Its Hill Country Access

Oct 4, 2013: Duke Hunts More Wind Texas Funds

Oct 4, 2013: Austin Embraces a Future of Wind

Oct 4, 2013: Solar Vs Solar: Would-Be Utility Targets Rooftop Model

Oct 4, 2013: Bond strategy: Sell Treasurys, Buy … Solar, like Buffett?

Oct 4, 2013: Ikea To Sell Solar Panels In British Stores, But U.S. Must Wait

Oct 4, 2013: Clean Energy Fuels Wants You To Fill It Up With Landfill Gas

Other News

Oct 9, 2013: PJM investing billions to brace for Mother Nature

Oct 6, 2013: Tradition Energy Selected by Texas Community College Cooperative Purchasing Network

Oct 4, 2013: Railroad Commission Of Texas Taps CGI To Fuel Performance Gains

============================================================================================

For the Week of  9/27/13 — 10/4/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Oct 2, 2013: Fitch: Energy Future Holdings and OGX May Push 4Q High Yield Default Rate to 3.5%

Oct 2, 2013: Fidelity Hires Advisers For Energy Future Reshuffle Plan -Sources

Oct 1, 2013: Energy Future’s Debt Climbs After Making Bond’s Coupon Payment

Generation Adequacy

Oct 3, 2013: Texas Power Plant Obtains Permit As Developers Await PUC Action

Oct 3, 2013: Opinion: With 30 States Having No Electric Choice, Compete Coalition Decides to Air Ads in — Texas?? (Compete “Reliability” Radio Ads Warn of Texas “Power Shortages”)

Oct 2, 2013: Keeping The Lights On In Texas

Oct 2, 2013: Texas Public Policy Foundation Releases Paper Examining Capacity Markets: Reliability Concerns Do Not Warrant The Heavy Regulation Of A Capacity Market

Oct 2, 2013: Tanton: Texas Should Switch To A Capacity Market To Ensure Reliability

Oct 1, 2013: Battle Over Power Capacity In Texas Heats Up

Oct 1, 2013: Opinion: Exelon SVP: PJM Capacity Market a “Recipe” for What Can Happen in Texas

Oct 1, 2013: FERC Suspends PJM’s Sought Tariff Revisions to Change Demand Response Rules for Capacity Market Participation; Sets Technical Conference

Sept. 30, 2013: PUCT Staff files Agenda for October 8 Workshop for Resource Adequacy Project

Sept. 30, 2013: ERCOT Protocol Revision Filed to Shorten Settlement Timeline to Five Days

Sept. 30, 2013: ERCOT Receives NSO for AES Deepwater Units

Sept. 30, 2013: Talk To EPA About Carbon Pollution At Existing Power Plants

Sept. 30, 2013: Natural Gas Loses Steam For Power Generation

Sept. 27, 2013: PJM Called 5 Blackouts To Prevent Cascading Outages During September Heat Wave

Headlines

Oct 3, 2013: CPS Eyes New Cuts To Bonus Program

Oct 3, 2013: GEUS Explosion in Greenville Still Under Investigation

Oct 2, 2013: After Two Years, Texas Switch Holds Remain About 1% of Residential ESI IDs

Oct 1, 2013: Ron Binz Drops Out Of Consideration As FERC Chair

Oct 1, 2013: On-Site Power Delivers A Jolt To US Utilities

Oct 1, 2013: Balance of Power: Water Utilities Find Ways to Reduce Energy Costs through Demand Response

Oct 1, 2013: Cyberthreat Tsunami Threatens Utilities: DOE Awards $30 Million To Fight Back

Sept. 30, 2013: Texas TDUs File Fees for Advanced Meter Opt-Out

Sept. 30, 2013: Opinion: Texas TDUs’ Estimates of Customers Electing to Opt-Out of Advanced Metering Vary Widely

Sept. 30, 2013: Chicago’s Power2switch Service Acquired By Texas Firm

Sept. 30, 2013: Bill Gates Backs Power Grid Networking Startup Varentec

Sept. 30, 2013: Real-Time Monitoring Yields Payoffs in Power Distribution

Sept. 30, 2013: Is The Power Grid Ready for Worst-Case Scenarios?

Sept. 30, 2013: What Can Utilities Learn From This Past Summer?

Sept. 30, 2013: Texas Coalition for Affordable Power: Electricity Complaints Lowest Point Since Deregulation

Sept. 30, 2013: Report: Electric Deregulation Drives Complaints

Sept. 29, 2013: Watchdog: Is This The Worst Electricity Company In Texas?

Sept. 27, 2013: Fitch Affirms Texas Muni Power Agency Revs at ‘A+’; Outlook Stable

Sept. 30, 2013: Texas QSE to Pay $30,000 to Settle NSRS Non-Performance

Sept. 30, 2013: Choose Energy Acquires Competing Online Energy Shopping Platform, Business

Sept. 26, 2013: Smart Meters and Transactive Energy

Sept. 27, 2013: Yale Polls: Texans Aren’t As Different On Climate Issues As Some Might Think

Sept. 26, 2013: Obama Energy Nominee Ron Binz Becomes Climate Change Battleground

Renewable Power

Oct 2, 2013: Wind Power Project Coming to Crosby County in Texas

Oct 3, 2013: Texas Universities Exhibit At The Solar Decathlon And Drive Clean Energy Research

Oct 3, 2013: Wind Energy’s Tax Break Still Spins In Debate

Oct 3, 2013: Turning Wood Chips Into Gasoline? NJ Firm Hopes To

Oct 3, 2013: Tesla Model S Fire Points To Challenges For Electric Cars; Experts Vouch For Safety

Oct 3, 2013: Gates Has Another Punt On Clean-Tech

Oct 2, 2013: Congress Weighs Future of Wind Energy Tax Credit

Oct 2, 2013: US Air Force Trains For Combat On Wind Power

Oct 2, 2013: US Army Moves Toward Solar Energy to Save Lives

Oct 2, 2013: Tracking the Billions Invested in Residential Solar Finance

Oct 1, 2013: Texas Wind Power Growing Fast

Oct 1, 2013: Wind Farm Company Seeks Tax Break In Cameron County

Oct 1, 2013: Lower Natural Gas Prices Could Impact Solar, Wind

Oct 1, 2013: The Eagle Has Landed … On a Wind Turbine

Oct 1, 2013: Coalition to Congress: End the Wind Production Tax Credit Now

Sept. 30, 2013: EPA To Be Hit Hard In Shutdown, Could Delay Renewable Fuel Standard

Sept. 30, 2013: Exploding Fuel Tankers Driving U.S. Army to Solar Power

Sept. 30, 2013: First-Half U.S. Wind Power Production Up 20% Year-Over-Year

Sept. 30, 2013: Solar Power’s Growth Outpaces Wind Energy

Sept. 30, 2013: Supercomputers Improve Solar Power Forecasts

Sept. 30, 2013: Virtual Power Plants: A New Model for Renewables Integration

Sept. 27, 2013: Vestas Wins 400MW Wind Turbine Order In Texas

Sept. 27, 2013: Duke Energy Plans To Build 2 Texas Wind Projects Totaling 400 MW

Sept. 30, 2013: IKEA Starts Selling Solar Panels For Homes

Sept. 27, 2013: Wind Power Company Pattern’s Shares Rise 10 Percent In Debut

Sept. 27, 2013: Solar Industry Searches for Next Emerging US Markets

Other News

Oct 2, 2013: Source Power & Gas Names Retail Vets as New VPs of Direct, Channel Sales

Oct 1, 2013: Start-up Backed by Private Equity Receives Texas REP Certificate

Oct 1, 2013: Jellyfish Invasion Paralyzes Swedish Reactor

Sept. 30, 2013: Texas REP Granted Use of Trade Name Beyond Power

Sept. 30, 2013: Burglars Claiming To Be TXU Utility Workers Lure Elderly Couple Out Of Home To Steal Cash

===========================================================================

For the Week of  9/20/13 — 9/27/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Sept. 25, 2013: Who’s Who of TXU (Advisors)

Sept. 23, 2013: EFH Creditors Mull Strategy To Bridge Value Gap -Sources

Sept. 21, 2013: Schnurman: Energy Future Holdings’ Restructuring May Get Messy

Generation Adequacy

Sept. 26, 2013: E.P.A. Rules on Emissions at Existing Coal Plants Might Give States Leeway

Sept. 25, 2013: Texas Industrials Pose Alternate Plan to Steer Talk Away From Capacity Market

Sept. 24, 2013: Texas Industrial Customers: New Generation Being Built in Texas Belie Claims of Impending Disaster

Sept. 24, 2013: Opinion: Parent of Texas REP Says Electricity “Essential Part of Life”, Texans “Deserve Electric Service 100% of the Time” (Will REP Cease Disconnects for Non-Pay?)

Sept. 24, 2013: Opinion: Texas Customers Universal in Opposition to Mandated Reserve Margin, Capacity Market

Sept. 26, 2013: Opinion: Capacity Owner CFO: Experience in PJM Capacity Market Has Been Like “Whack-A-Mole”; Warns “Steel in the Ground” Being Replaced by New-Build Generation That “May Not Be There”

Sept. 26, 2013: Opinion: Constellation: Retail Business Challenged By Lack of Volatility, Competitors’ (Lack of) Pricing of Risk

Sept. 25, 2013: America’s Electric Infrastructure Too Dependent On Water

Sept. 24, 2013: ERCOT Board Brings Demand Response To The Real-Time Electric Market

Sept. 25, 2013:  In Letter on Capacity Market, House Republicans Urge FERC to Ensure Wholesale Markets Don’t Become “Mere Administrative Constructs” Dependent on Increasing Inputs from Regulators

Sept. 23, 2013: Luminant’s Operations Mean A Lot To Rusk County

Sept. 22, 2013: Dallas-based Luminant Calls Obama’s Proposed Carbon Limits on Power Plants “Unworkable”

Sept. 22, 2013: White: Are Texas Power Plants The Cleanest Or The Dirtiest?

Sept. 22, 2013: Texas Electric Grid Getting Greener Even Before EPA Crackdown

Sept. 22, 2013: ERCOT Delays Implementation of NPRR 416, Creation of the RUC Resource Buyback Provision

Headlines

Sept. 26, 2013: Entergy Seeks Higher Rates By April

Sept. 26, 2013: Texas Staff Proposes Assessments On Reps To Fund Broadcasting Of PUCT Meetings

Sept. 26, 2013: Texas Staff File Draft to Implement Cease and Desist Authority

Sept. 26, 2013: Climate Panel: Warming ‘Extremely Likely’ Man-Made

Sept. 26, 2013: Senate Aide: White House Weighing Other Options For FERC Chair

Sept. 26, 2013: Atomic Goal: 800 Years of Power From Waste

Sept. 26, 2013: Upton, Green Propose Standardizing Energy Cross-Border Permitting

Sept. 26, 2013: Big Data From Smart Grid Tells Utilities More Than They Want To Know

Sept. 26, 2013: Coal Makes Comeback in U.S. Power Generation

Sept. 26, 2013: In Depth: The Debate Over the EPA’s New Carbon Capture Climate Scheme

Sept. 25, 2013: FERC Has Authority To Reform Power Planning, DC Circ. Told

Sept. 25, 2013: A Pause, Not an End, to Warming

Sept. 25, 2013: Nuclear power still viable, not valued in U.S. electricity market

Sept. 25, 2013: Fitch: Significant Erosion in Power Plant Valuations

Sept. 25, 2013: Are The Lights Going Out For Electric Utilities?

Sept. 25, 2013: Utilities Dumbstruck By Big Data From Smarter Grid

Sept. 25, 2013: Coal Reclaims Some Market Share Lost To Gas

Sept. 25, 2013: The Real War On Coal

Sept. 24, 2013: CenterPoint Energy Services marks one year of helping Houstonians save money on their electric bills

Sept. 25, 2013: Texas REPs Seek to Prohibit Use of Logo, Brand By Both Utility and Competitive Affiliate

Sept. 25, 2013: ERCOT Board Approves Loads in SCED Protocol

Sept. 24, 2013: Yale Survey: Most Texans Believe in Global Warming

Sept. 24, 2013: Utilities Tap Power of Social Media

Sept. 23, 2013: EPA’s Latest Limits Draw Little Protest in Texas

Sept. 23, 2013: Frisco Mayor’s Letter Outlines Opposition To Power Lines

Sept. 23, 2013: Northeast Texas Powered By Coal

Sept. 23, 2013: Fitch Rates NextEra Energy Capital Holdings’ Debentures ‘A-‘

Sept. 23, 2013: GEUS Board Expected To Approve Budget

Sept. 23, 2013: Fitch: EPA Proposal Would Limit Public Power’s Options

Sept. 23, 2013: EPA Chief Offers Glimpse Into Climate Rules for Existing Power Plants

Sept. 23, 2013: New-Build Coal Plants Get CO2 Emission Cap in EPA’s Draft Rules

Sept. 23, 2013: U.S. E.P.A. Proposes Standards To Cut Carbon Pollution From New Power Plants

Sept. 23, 2013: EPA Chief Downplays Business Impact Of Emissions Caps

Sept. 23, 2013: Interest Groups Deliver Their Reactions to EPA’s Carbon Rules for Power Plants

Sept. 20, 2013: Rate Unchanged for Some Xcel Customers in Texas

Sept. 20, 2013: Kerrville PUB Passes Budget, Gives Staff Raises

Sept. 20, 2013: World’s Top Climate Scientists Told To ‘Cover Up’ The Fact That The Earth’s Temperature Hasn’t Risen For The Last 15 Years

Sept. 21, 2013  Rep. Barton Is Fired Up About Obama’s “War On Coal”

Sept. 21, 2013: Pollution Rule Hurts Coal, Helps Other Sources

Sept. 21, 2013: Obama Moves To Limit Power-Plant Carbon Pollution

Sept. 21, 2013: Administration to Press Ahead With Carbon Limits

Sept. 20, 2013: Feds Propose First-Ever Rules To Curb Power Plant Carbon Emissions

Sept. 20, 2013: Will The USA’s New Power Plant Pollution Limits Kill Coal?

Sept. 20, 2013: Analysis: U.S. Industry Sees Carbon-Capture As Legal Chink In EPA Rules

Sept. 20, 2013: Obama Renews Support For FERC Nominee Despite Senators’ Concerns

Sept. 20, 2013: Energy Dept. Awards $30M For Improved Protection Against Cyberattacks

Renewable Power

Sept. 26, 2013: Duke Energy Renewables Two Build Two Wind Power Facilities Near Brownsville, Texas

Sept. 26, 2013: Google Nearly Doubles Wind Energy Portfolio

Sept. 26, 2013: In Search for Renewables, Google Finds More Texas Wind

Sept. 26, 2013: Google’s Solar Energy Investment Shows Signs Of Life

Sept. 26, 2013: Annual Solar Installs to Beat Wind for First Time

Sept. 26, 2013: Six Myths About Renewable Energy

Sept. 26, 2013: Green Mountain Energy Company Introduces First 100% Solar Electricity Offer in Texas

Sept. 26, 2013: Green Mountain Energy Offering Texas Customers New Product, Rebate Program To Help Build New Solar

Sept. 26, 2013: Duke Energy To Build Two Wind Power Projects In South Texas

Sept. 26, 2013: Duke to Expand Wind Power Projects in South Texas

Sept. 25, 2013: Largest Community-Owned Wind Farm Coming to Texas South Plains

Sept. 25, 2013: Malouff Gets 15 Years in Jonestown Wind Energy Fraud Case

Sept. 25, 2013: US Receives Mediocre Ratings For Energy Sustainability

Sept. 25, 2013: Renewable Gas Push Fueling Wild Swings In Ethanol Credit Prices

Sept. 25, 2013: U.S. Manufacturers Save $1 Billion, 11 Million Tons of CO2 through Energy Efficiency Investments

Sept. 25, 2013: Energi Partners with NREL to Evaluate Uninsurable Risk in Small Building Energy Efficiency Projects

Sept. 25, 2013: Intel, Apple, Kohl’s Win EPA Green Power Leadership Awards

Sept. 24, 2013: Country’s Largest Wind Farm Planned In Texas Panhandle

Sept. 24, 2013: Texas AG Files Lawsuit Against Solar Power Facility

Sept. 24, 2013: CPS Energy Will Take A Pass On Buying Power From North Texas Wind Farm

Sept. 24, 2013: IRS Extends Subsidy To Wind Power Producers

Sept. 24, 2013: Is America In An Innovation Boom?

Sept. 24, 2013: What Are the Impacts of High Wind and Solar Penetration on the Grid?

Sept. 23, 2013: Top California Democrat Travels To Texas To Honor Bush Center With Environmental Award

Sept. 23, 2013: Kohl’s Receives Green Power Award From The EPA

Sept. 23, 2013: Renewables Top 14 Percent of U.S. Electrical Generation

Sept. 23, 2013: Four Ways The Solar Boom Has Rattled Utilities

Sept. 23, 2013: Big Solar Is Having a Banner Year

Sept. 20, 2013: ERCOT Signs 631 MW Of Wind Projects For Interconnection

Sept. 21, 2013: Wind Power Generation Surges In Texas

Sept. 21, 2013: Wind Energy Export System at ERCOT Might Be Too Small

Sept. 21, 2013: Solar Energy Earns Rankings For Two Texas Cities

Sept. 20, 2013: Can Leasing Jump-Start Distributed Wind as It Has Done for Solar?

Sept. 20, 2013: Forced Localization – A Growing Threat To U.S. Solar Exports

Sept. 20, 2013: FERC Report Indicates U.S. Added Bioenergy Capacity in August

Sept. 20, 2013: The Smart Grid is Coming: Are You Ready?

Other News

Sept. 26, 2013: Constellation Sees Opportunity in Risk Products from Exit of Financial Players

Sept. 23, 2013: Home Energy Checkup Can Find Costly Ailments

==================================================

For the Week of  9/13/13 — 9/20/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Sept. 19, 2013: Creditors Circle Around Dallas-Based Energy Future Holdings

Sept. 17, 2013: Creditors Circle Energy Future Holdings Before Potential Bankruptcy

Sept. 17, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Creditors To Meet, But No Deal Close -Sources

Sept. 17, 2013: KKR to TPG Stakes Seen Cut Down in Energy Future Workout

Sept. 17, 2013: EFH Owners Dangle Bigger Cut For Creditors In Bankruptcy Offer

Sept. 17, 2013: EFH Creditors Seek Bigger Stake In Reorganization, Sources Say

Sept. 17, 2013: Energy Future Lenders Prepare Bankruptcy Plan: Corporate Finance

Generation Adequacy

Sept. 20, 2013: Opinion: Texas Mandated Reserve Margin, Capacity Market Would Be Inconsistent With Governor’s Competitiveness Council, State Energy Plan

Sept. 20, 2013: ISO New England: “Difficult” to Call Capacity Market a Success When Resources Fail to Perform, and NERC Violation Occurs

Sept. 19, 2013: FERC Members Focus On Electric Capacity Markets Ahead Of Wednesday Meeting

Sept. 19, 2013: Luminant Officials Clarify Reports Of ‘Shutdown’

Sept. 19, 2013: Texas Eyes PACE Loans to Boost Energy Efficiency

Sept. 19, 2013: Texas, Where Oil Rules, Turns Its Eye To Energy Efficiency

Sept. 17, 2013: Luminant To Shut 3rd Texas Coal Unit, Citing Low Power Prices

Sept. 17, 2013: Dallas-based Luminant Seeks to “Suspend Operations” at Martin Lake Power Plant Unit Due to Cheap Electricity Prices

Sept. 17, 2013: Luminant To Suspend Operations At Third Texas Coal-Fired Unit

Sept. 18, 2013: ERCOT Announces Posting of Updated Backcast Tool For Interim Solution B+

Sept. 17, 2013: Opinion: ISO-NE Capacity Market Fails

Sept. 16, 2013: Texas Agency Puzzled By Summer Power Use That Didn’t Materialize

Sept. 16, 2013: Northeast Capacity Owner CEO Warns of “Disastrous” Consequences from Current Capacity Market Design; Calls Markets “Not Sustainable”

Sept. 16, 2013: Opinion: Pennsylvania PUC Chair Cites “Reliability,” “Jobs” Concerns from Plant Closure, Validating Other States’ Long-Term Contracting; Capacity Owner Cites Market “Dysfunction” in PJM

Headlines

Sept. 20, 2013: Proton Energy Denies Allegations by Texas Staff, Alleges Misuse of Power

Sept. 19, 2013: PUCT Seeks To Suspend Fort Worth-Based Electricity Provider

Sept. 19, 2013: West Texas Municipal Power Agency Chairman Confirms Non-Posted Lunch Meeting Ahead Of Budget Vote

Sept. 19, 2013: CPS Execs Grilled Over Bonuses

Sept. 19, 2013: Fitch Upgrades $2B MidAmerican Energy Co Sr Unsecured Notes to ‘A+’; Outlook Stable

Sept. 19, 2013: EPA Moves To Limit Emissions Of Future Coal- And Gas-Fired Power Plants

Sept. 19, 2013: Top Climate Scientists Admit Global Warming Forecasts Were Wrong

Sept. 19, 2013: Utilities Contend White House Carbon Capture Mandate Is Premature

Sept. 19, 2013: DOE to Bolster Grid Cyber Security with $30M

Sept. 19, 2013: US Making Progress On Gas-Electric Coordination: US FERC Staff

Sept. 19, 2013: Odds Grow Longer for Obama’s Nominee to U.S. Energy Panel

Sept. 18, 2013: Head of LCRA Announces Resignation

Sept. 18, 2013: City To Fight El Paso Electric Co.’S Request To Expand Montana Power Station, Increase Fee

Sept. 18, 2013: Texas Staff Seek to Revoke Retail Electric Provider’s Certificate

Sept. 18, 2013: North Texans Learning To Live Off The Grid

Sept. 18, 2013: Hearing Leaves Ron Binz With Few Votes To Spare

Sept. 18, 2013: An Unusual Public Battle Over An Energy Nomination

Sept. 18, 2013:  University Of Texas-Environmental Defense Fund Shale Gas Study Unmasks Politics Of Anti-Fracking Activist Cornell Scientists

Sept. 18, 2013: Reliability Ensures Coal’s Future

Sept. 18, 2013: Google Puts More Wind In Its Sales

Sept. 18, 2013: Google Is On the Way to Quietly Becoming an Electric Utility

Sept. 17, 2013: TXU Launches Refer-a-Friend Program with Unlimited Earning Potential

Sept. 17, 2013: Reliant Launches New App

Sept. 17, 2013: LP&L Hires New General Counsel, Will Play ‘Key Role’ In Securing Power Supply

Sept. 17, 2013: CPS Set To Revise Its Bonus Program

Sept. 17, 2013: American Electric Power To Reaffirm 2013 Operating EPS Guidance

Sept. 17, 2013: Power Plant Carbon Standards: The EPA Should Use the Clean Air Act’s Flexibility to Help Reduce Emissions

Sept. 17, 2013: 4 Reasons Why the EPA Rules Won’t Change Coal’s Outlook

Sept. 17, 2013: USDA To Fund Electric Power Grid Upgrades In Seven States Including Texas

Sept. 17, 2013: Three Regulatory Models That Could Help Utilities Embrace the Future

Sept. 17, 2013: FERC: Leveling the Power Transmission “Playing Field”

Sept. 17, 2013: FERC Clarifies Order Accepting MISO’s Resource Adequacy Plan For Integrating LSEs

Sept. 17, 2013: Conservatives Go All Out Against FERC Nominee

Sept. 17, 2013: Wyden: FERC Does Not Pick Energy Winners and Losers

Sept. 16, 2013: Duke Energy’s Battery Storage Project In Texas Wins Top North American Award

Sept. 16, 2013: The 50 Dirtiest Power Plants In The U.S. Generate More Pollution Than Most Countries

Sept. 16, 2013: Fracking May Not “Significantly Contribute” To Global Warming After All

Sept. 16, 2013: NMA Warns New Power Plant Rules Means Higher Utility Bills

Sept. 16, 2013: Policy Changes Needed As US Power System Is Remade: Report

Sept. 16, 2013: States Warn EPA Of Fight Over Power Plant GHG Rules

Sept. 16, 2013: USDA Provides Millions More In Smart Grid Funding

Sept. 16, 2013: NRG Retail Business Acquires Customer Book of Texas REP

Sept. 15, 2013: Austin Energy To Collect Legal Fees From Suburban Customers

Sept. 12, 2013: CPS’ Deely Power Plant Unit Still Closed After Tuesday’s Blast

Sept. 14, 2013: Straus Names Rep. Johe Frullo of Lubbock To Energy Council

Renewable Power

Sept. 19, 2013: Google’s Texas Wind Power Bluff

Sept. 19, 2013: Dallas Getting Greener, Environmental Group Says

Sept. 19, 2013: Abbott Calls Out Farmers Branch Solar Company’s “Made In The USA” Claim

Sept. 19, 2013: NREL Highlights 2012 Utility Green Power Leaders

Sept. 19, 2013: Capturing Solar Energy in Space for the World’s Remotest Region

Sept. 19, 2013: FERC: US Connected 578MW Of Large-Scale PV In August

Sept. 19, 2013: Utility Targets Driving Commercial Solar Energy Storage

Sept. 18, 2013: The Texas Wind Rush: It Started With An Unlikely Leader

Sept. 18, 2013: Google Makes Texas Wind Farm Agreement

Sept. 18, 2013: Volkswagen Says It Will Bring Electric Vehicle To U.S. In Two Years

Sept. 18, 2013: Cities Take Up Energy Conservation Charge

Sept. 18, 2013: Vestas and EDF in US Wind Turbine Deal

Sept. 18, 2013: Why Are Some Big Utilities Embracing Small-Scale Solar Power?

Sept. 18, 2013: Infograhic: State of US Solar 2013

Sept. 18, 2013: Commercial Solar Market: The Big Boom To Come

Sept. 17, 2013: Austin Ranks High Among U.S. Energy-Efficient Cities

Sept. 17, 2013: Utility-Scale Solar Grows But Not In North Texas

Sept. 17, 2013: Texas Purchase Marks Google’s Biggest Energy Deal Yet

Sept. 17, 2013: Google To “Buy” 100% Of Electricity From 240 MW Texas Wind Farm

Sept. 17, 2013: Homeowners Take Shine to Solar

Sept. 17, 2013: GM Takes On Tesla With Plans For 200-Mile Electric Car

Sept. 17, 2013: Washington Gas Energy Systems Selected by U.S. Army as a Solar Technology Contractor on $7 Billion Renewable Energy Multiple Award Task Order Contracts

Sept. 17, 2013: Arista Power Receives $625,000 U.S. Army Contract To Continue Development Of Intelligent Micro-Grid System

Sept. 17, 2013: First Wind Selected for Multiple Award Task Order Contract by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Sept. 17, 2013: Study Says Clean Energy Best Answer To U.S. Power Costs

Sept. 17, 2013: Using Technology to Monitor and Maintain Wind Turbines

Sept. 16, 2013: Book Excerpt: “Go Get Smart on Wind”

Sept. 16, 2013: SheerWind Develops the World’s First 25MW Wind Tower

Sept. 16, 2013: Moxa to Demonstrate Cloud-Based Solar System Monitoring at Solar Power International in Chicago

Sept. 16, 2013: Wind Investments Blow Pickens Off The Forbes 400 List

Sept. 16, 2013: ACORE’s Renewable Energy in the 50 States: Western Region Report Illustrates How States Are Leading the Way Toward Sustainable Power

Sept. 16, 2013: Solar Plane Pioneers Team Up with Google

Sept. 13, 2013: Group Calls for New Texas Building Code

Sept. 15, 2013: ‘Blend Wall’ Closes In, And Lobbies Spar Over Impact

Sept. 13, 2013: Utilities Add Solar, But Panel Growth Slows Elsewhere

===============================================

For the Week of  9/6/13 — 9/13/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

Sept. 12, 2013: Former TXU’s Likely Bankruptcy is Not the Final Chapter on Utility Restructuring

Sept. 11, 2013: Chances Slim For Prepackaged Bankruptcy For Energy Future

Sept. 11, 2013: TXU’s Imminent Bankruptcy Reveals Deregulation’s Failure

Sept. 10, 2013: Analyst: Energy Future Holdings Could File for Bankruptcy by Nov. 1

Sept. 9, 2013: Moody’s: Energy Future Holdings Bankruptcy Coming Soon

Sept. 9, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Bankruptcy Would Rank Among Biggest In Decades

Sept. 9, 2013: Moody’s Puts Energy Future Holdings On Bankruptcy Watch

Sept. 9, 2013: Moody’s: Energy Future Holdings Corp. Bankruptcy Likely By End Of Year

Sept. 6, 2013: Energy Future Holdings, Texas Competitive CDS Show Severe Stress

Generation Adequacy

Sept. 12, 2013: Texas Advances Operating Reserves Demand Curve, Sets Major Parameters, NPRR to Be Issued Next Week

Sept. 12, 2013: Texas Generator Submits Seasonal Mothball Notice

Sept. 11, 2013: ERCOT Prepared for Upcoming Fall and Winter Demand

Sept. 12, 2013: Opinion: Paying for Mandated Reserve Margin, Capacity Market Can’t Save Customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan from Involuntary Load Shed, Outages due to Lack of Available Supply

Sept. 12, 2013: Opinion: With Blackouts in Capacity-Market Dependent PJM, Texas Has Its Answer on Whether It Needs Mandated Reserve Margin

Sept. 12, 2013: Texas Generator Pushes for Capacity Market Day After Capacity Market RTO Forced to Involuntarily Shed Load Due to Inadequate Supply

Sept. 10, 2013: Mild Temperatures Cool Off Texas Electricity Prices In August

Sept. 10, 2013: EIA: Cooler Temperatures In August Keep Peak Prices Lower In Texas Power Market

Sept. 11, 2013: Opinion: Mandated Texas Reserve Margin Would Waste Investment in Smart Meters; Make Customers Subsidize REP R&D

Sept. 9, 2013: With a Cooler-than-Normal August, Texas Grid Catches a Break

Sept. 10, 2013: Opinion: Economist: “Vast Majority” of Capacity Market Payments in RTOs Go To “Resources That Are Economic” That Will “Operate The Same” Regardless of Capacity Payment

Sept. 10, 2013: Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Q&A on Texas Electricity Market

Sept. 8, 2013: More and More, Proposed Changes to Texas Electricity Market Just Look Like Windfall for Generators

Headlines

Sept. 12, 2013: LCRA Energizes Its Final CREZ Transmission Line

Sept. 12, 2013: Entergy Ranks as National Leader in Economic Development for Six Consecutive Years

Sept. 12, 2013: Texas REP to Pay $28,000 to Resolve Staff Investigation on Unauthorized Switches

Sept. 12, 2013: Push For More Energy Regulation Lamented By Politicians, Execs At Bush Institute Conference

Sept. 12, 2013: Environmental Group Says Coal Power Plants Are “Putting Texas In The Frying Pan”

Sept. 12, 2013: 50 “Dirtiest” U.S. Power Plants Release More Greenhouse Gases than All But 6 Nations

Sept. 12, 2013: Coal Industry Cries Foul Over Obama Emission Rules

Sept. 12, 2013: Report: Obama Admin To Propose Sweeping Coal Regs

Sept. 12, 2013: Obama Said To Ban New Coal Plants Without Carbon Controls

Sept. 11, 2013: Entergy Texas Warns of Dangers of Stealing Electrical Equipment, Metal

Sept. 11, 2013: 140-Mile Electric Transmission Line Working Texas

Sept. 11, 2013: El Paso Electric Plans To Add Pair Of 88-MW Peaking Units To Power Station

Sept. 11, 2013: Bastrop Electric Utility Sues Tree Trimmer Over 2011 Wildfires

Sept. 11, 2013: Obama to Ban New Coal Plants Without Costly Carbon Controls

Sept. 11, 2013: U.S. Nuclear Power in Decline

Sept. 11, 2013: Anfield Group Says Incentives Needed to Protect Nation’s Power Grid From Cyber Attacks

Sept. 11, 2013: Texas Named Top State for Doing Business By Area Development Magazine; Perry Says Government Needs to “Get Out of the Way”

Sept. 10, 2013: Centerpoint Energy Amends And Extends Credit Facilities Totaling $2.1 Billion

Sept. 10, 2013: CPS Closes Deely Unit after Explosion

Sept. 11, 2013: Texas A/S Provider to Pay $52,000 Under Settlement Related to Non-Spin Deployment

Sept. 10, 2013: Biggest Polluters In U.S. Ranked By Greenhouse Gas Emissions In New Report

Sept. 10, 2013: Report: Texas Ranks 1st In Power Plant Carbon Emissions

Sept. 10, 2013: Microgrids: Sandy Forces Rethink Of US Power Supply

Sept. 10, 2013: Electric Utility Lobbying Declines, But Focus On Cybersecurity Remains

Sept. 10, 2013: Report: 76% Of Utilities Plan To Procure Grid Data Analytics Software

Sept. 10, 2013: Our Fragile, Challenged Electric System

Sept. 10, 2013: TruSmart Energy Offering New Time-Based, Usage-Based Products in Texas

Sept. 9, 2013: Texas Boasts Most Modern Power Grid In The Country

Sept. 9, 2013: Few Protest CPS Rate Increase

Sept. 9, 2013: Wyden, Feinstein Statement on CFTC, FERC Energy Market Oversight

Sept. 8, 2013: Delays Call Into Question Entergy’s Plan To Spin Off Electricity Transmission To Itc Holdings

Sept. 9, 2013:Texas Staff File Draft to Implement List of REPs Offering Bill Assistance to Military Veterans with Severe Burns

Renewable Power

Sept. 12, 2013: Fast Park Completes Solar Install At Texas Airport Facility

Sept. 12, 2013: EDF Renewable Energy Signs 200 MW Wind Turbine Deal With GE

Sept. 12, 2013: Texas Shows Transmission Benefit For Wind Power

Sept. 12, 2013: Efficiency Bill May Energize A Wider Debate

Sept. 12, 2013: Electric Car Can Charge Four Times Faster Than Previous Models

Sept. 12, 2013: Wind Industry Missing Out On Potential Sources Of Bank Financing, US Official Says

Sept. 12, 2013: U.S. Installs 832 MW of Solar PV in Q2 2013, According to New U.S. Solar Market Insight Report

Sept. 11, 2013: CPS Energy Lets Some Sun Shine In

Sept. 11, 2013: How Texas Dealers Slammed The Door On Tesla

Sept. 11, 2013: First Wind takes Route 66 in Texas

Sept. 11, 2013: Westerly Wind Sells Texas Wind Project to First Wind

Sept. 11, 2013: Wind Industry Expects Upswing Through 2013, Sees Potential For Another 13 GW From PTC

Sept. 11, 2013: ACCIONA Shortlisted for U.S. Army Wind Power Projects Under $7 billion Renewable Energy Program

Sept. 11, 2013: Combination Of Solar And On-Site Storage An Emerging Threat To Utilities

Sept. 11, 2013: Direct Energy Teams Up To Finance Solar Plants

Sept. 11, 2013: SolarCity And Direct Energy Create US$124 Million Solar Investment Fund

Sept. 11, 2013: DOE Announces Funding For Hydrokinetic Power Projects

Sept. 11, 2013: Federal Biologists Tally ‘Alarming’ Eagle Deaths At U.S. Wind Farms

Sept. 10, 2013: U.S. Army chooses 17 companies for $7 billion wind energy build-out

Sept. 10, 2013:Wind Turbines no Longer a Threat to the US Army

Sept. 10, 2013: Solar Power, Energy Storage to Create Billion-dollar Industry

Sept. 10, 2013: US Navy Battery Testing Facility Goes Solar

Sept. 10, 2013: How Utilities Use Solar Energy To Woo Customers

Sept. 10, 2013: Direct Energy Business Customers May Get a Deal on Solar Electricity

Sept. 10, 2013: Honda Says Accord Hybrid Has MPG Lead Amid Mileage Fray

Sept. 10, 2013: Comment: Tidal Gaining Traction In The U.S?

Sept. 9, 2013: The Largest Federal Wind Farm in Texas Will Power The Dismantling Of Nuclear Weapons

Sept. 10, 2013:Direct Energy and SolarCity Sign Multimillion Dollar Deal to Expand Distributed Solar

Sept. 9, 2013: Clean Energy: Don’t Believe The Shakeout Hype

Sept. 9, 2013: Rooftop Solar Panels Become New Enemy Of U.S. Firefighters

Sept. 9, 2013: Stanford Scientists Calculate The Energy Required To Store Wind And Solar Power On The Grid

Sept. 9, 2013: Wind Energy Company Launches $320 Million IPO

Sept. 6, 2013: Texas Has The Largest Solar Potential In The Country

Sept. 6, 2013: NRG Energy Calls Off 10-MW Texas Solar Project

Sept. 6, 2013: Wind Power Generation Reducing Use Of Baseload Capacity In Southwest Power Pool

Sept. 8, 2013: New Solar Device Kills Germs On Surgical Equipment (And Everything Else)

Sept. 6, 2013: Physicists Find A Compound To More Efficiently Convert Waste Heat To Electrical Power

Sept. 6, 2013: How to Harness the Power of 70,000 Suns

Sept. 6, 2013: Why the US Military is Falling in Love with Electric Vehicles

Sept. 6, 2013: How Energy Storage Is Transforming The Electric Power System

Sept. 6, 2013: Energy Department Loses $42m On Clean-Energy Loan To Mich. Van Company

Sept. 6, 2013: Overcoming Obstacles in Wind Energy Construction

Other News

Sept. 12, 2013: Start-Up Texas REP Seeks License, Use of Name “Nova Power”

Sept. 12, 2013: Pioneer Power Re-applies for Texas REP Certificate

Sept. 11, 2013: Palo Alto College To Offer Gas And Technology Degrees

Sept. 10, 2013: TNMP Announces Date for REP Workshop

Sept. 10, 2013: Texas REP Files to Use Trade Name Beyond Power

Sept. 10, 2013: Retail Energy Group Issues Tips for Consumers on Dealing with Door-to-Door, Telesales

================================================================================

For the Week of  8/30/13 — 9/6/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

======================================================================

Special Reports by Competitive Assets –Do you need to know how to make CONFIDENTIAL filings at the Public Utility Commission of Texas? –Do you find the description in the PUCT rules is just not enough to know how to prepare them? –Perhaps you have had a confidential filing rejected by the PUCT staff. –Or perhaps you have new staff in charge of this task at your company and they are not accustomed to the detailed requirements of the PUCT for these filings. Competitive Assets has solutions for you.  Written by our expert familiar with PUCT filings, these reports can guide you to make successful confidential filings at the PUCT:

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=============================================================

Generation Adequacy

Sept. 5, 2013: Texas Power Neared $5,000 Cap Tuesday after Plants Shut

Sept. 5, 2013: Report: Real-Time Co-Optimization in ERCOT Would Cost Less Than 1% of Annual Capacity Market Costs

Sept. 5, 2013: Opinion: Arizona Commissioner Frustrated with Polarization of Retail Choice Investigation, Suggests Hearing and Issues Supplemental Questions — Texas Capacity Issues to Take Center Stage

Sept. 4, 2013: ERCOT Anticipates Plenty of Power for Fall and Winter

Sept. 3, 2013: No electricity Shortage Expected in Fall, Winter

August 29, 2013: Texas Regulators Advance Plan to Raise Prices When Supplies Tighten

Sept. 3, 2013: Generation Owner: PJM Capacity Market “Deeply Flawed,” and “Needs to be Fixed on Many Levels”

Headlines

Sept. 5, 2013: Customers in Greenville Keeping Tabs on Thermostat

Sept. 5, 2013: Lubbock Power & Light looks for transparency, cost savings with hire of new CFO

Sept. 5, 2013: CPS Promises More Transparency in Future Energy Deals

Sept. 5, 2013: Sierra Club Ramps Up Climate Fight Against Gas-fired Power Plants

Sept. 5, 2013: FERC Reveals Intention to Consider Loosening Dividend Payment Restrictions

Sept. 4, 2013: Power Grid Down Drill To Be Conducted By US Government

Sept. 4, 2013:  Grid Security Exercise / Grid Security Conference 2013 by NERC

Sept. 4, 2013: Experts Suggest Various Causes for Earthquakes in East Texas

Sept. 4, 2013: Smart Meters are Getting Smarter at Distributing Electricity

Sept. 4, 2013: 43 Percent of Energy Leaders Plan to Invest More in Efficiency Next Year, According to Schneider Electric Survey

Sept. 4, 2013: Nuclear Trashmen Gain From Record U.S. Reactor Shutdowns: Energy

Sept. 4, 2013: New Utility Case Study Released by the Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid

Sept. 3, 2013: Frisco City Council Opposes High-voltage Transmission Lines

Sept. 2, 2013: Oil Booms Strain on ERCOT Electrical Grid Continues

Sept. 2, 2013: Slaves’ Descendants Fight Coal Mining Company to Keep Land

Sept. 3, 2013: Greenhouse-Gas Fight Escalates

Sept. 3, 2013: Once-powerful Nuclear Industry Starts to Sputter Out

Sept. 3, 2013: Electric Utilities Benefit From Line Design Software on the Cloud

Sept. 2 , 2013: Choose Energy Grows Online Partnership with Electricity Supplier, TriEagle Energy, Achieves Significant Milestone

Sept. 2, 2013: Texas Grid Leads the Way

Sept. 3, 2013: Meeting Future Energy Needs, Reducing Costs and Building the Local Economy

August 30, 2013: Opinion: Lamar Smith, Hold Climate Hearings in Texas

Renewable Power

Sept. 5, 2013: Solar Panels Rise in Walmart Parking Lot

Sept. 5, 2013: Agricultural Energy Consumers Association: One Million Broken Promises: Legislation Would Harm Solar Energy Users, Billions of Dollars Jeopardized

Sept. 5, 2013: Boost from the Sun Could Help Gas Power Plants Generate More Electricity, Run More Cleanly

Sept. 4, 2013: Geothermal Power Rising Worldwide

Sept. 5, 2013: Geothermal Power Has Nearly Doubled Since ’96

Sept. 5, 2013: State’s Wind Power Industry Surges

Sept. 4, 2013: Midland ISD Hopes to Save Millions with New Energy Specialists

Sept. 4, 2013: My Cleantech Journey: From California to Texas and Beyond

Sept. 4, 2013: US Adds 976MW New Solar PV Capacity In 2Q As California Sets Record

Sept. 4, 2013: US Leads, Europe Second as Wind Industry Spends $430 Million on Patent Protection

Sept. 4, 2013: U.S. Holds its First Offshore Wind Energy Lease Auctions

Sept. 4, 2013: US Solar Capacity to Total 50GW by End of 2016, Says Deutsche Bank

Sept. 4, 2013: Skanska Reveals Plans for New Energy Corridor Development in Houston

Sept. 3, 2013: Ocean Energy to Get a Wave of Federal Funding

Sept. 3, 2013: Wind Turbine Demand to Drop for First Time in Five Years

Sept. 3, 2013: US Leads, Europe Second as Wind Industry Spends $430 Million on Patent Protection

Sept. 3, 2013: Government Subsidies Help Power Progress in Renewable Energy

Sept. 3, 2013: Army’s Big Renewables Buy Turns To Solar

August 30, 2013: Valero Adjusts Renewable Energy Portfolio

August 28, 2013: Texas Ranks in Top 10 for New Clean Energy Jobs

August 30, 2013: Texas Land Commissioner Patterson Considers On-site Power Generation from Natural Gas, Wind Energy

August 30, 2013: How Xcel Saved $22 Million with Weather and Wind Forecasting

Sept. 2, 2013: Wave Energy Technology Produces both Clean Water and Clean Energy

Sept. 1, 2013: Modern Electric Cars Look to the Past

Other News

Sept. 1, 2013: South Texas Students Unsure of Finishing Program

==========================================================

For the Week of  8/23/13 — 8/30/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

August 28, 2013: Doctors Ask State to Cut Air Pollution from Martin Lake, other Coal-fired Power Plants

August 28, 2013: Luminant Response to Ongoing Environmental Activism Campaign

August 28, 2013: Wind Surge Saps Bondholder Hope for Energy Future Payout

August 27, 2013: Doctors, Environmental Groups Want Tighter Emissions Limits on Energy Future Holdings’ Coal Plants

August 27, 2013: Dallas Doctors Ask Texas to Clean Up Luminant’s Coal Plants, Citing Asthma, Heart Attacks, and “Premature Death”

August 27, 2013: Dallas County doctors Enter the Fray over Luminant’s Oldest Coal Plants

August 26, 2013: State Lets Near-bankrupt Luminant Expand Mines

August 26, 2013:  Texas Lets Company Near Bankruptcy Expand Mines

Generation Adequacy

August 29, 2013: PUCT Inches Ahead on Plan to Address Power Reserve Issue

August 30, 2013: Texas Commission to Address Question of Mandated Reserve Margin; Directs Drafting of Operating Reserves Demand Curve Protocols

August 28, 2013: Opinion: Study: Texas Capacity Market to Cost $4.7 Billion Annually

August 28, 2013: NRG Study: Texas Will See Outages, $14 Billion in Losses Under Current Electricity Market

August 23, 2013: Power Prices Gain on Texas Grid as Hotter Weather Lifts Demand

August 24, 2013: A Kilowatt Saved is a Kilowatt Earned

August 23, 2013: FERC Staff Report: Centralized Capacity Market Design Elements

August 26, 2013: Opinion: FERC Staff Report Confirms Capacity Market Designs Not Ready for Prime Time, Texas Implementation

Headlines

August 29, 2013: GEUS at Greenville, Texas Starts Rate and Cost of Service Study

August 29, 2013: NextEra Energy Announces Settlement Rate for Equity Units Issued in September 2010

August 29, 2013: One Of The Largest U.S. Electric Utilities, AEP, To Deploy PRiSM Online Condition Monitoring Software

August 29, 2013: Power, Gas Industries Argue for Some Control on Communications

August 29, 2013: Texas to Hold Workshop on REP Collateral Requirements, POLR Rates, Other SWOC Impacts; Issues Questions for Comment

August 28, 2013: Texas Electric Trucks Could Run On The Wind

August 28, 2013: Texas Owns Title of the Country’s ‘Best Business Climate’

August 28, 2013: Opinion: Texas Ranked “Best Business Climate” by Business Facilities Despite (Or Because of?) Energy-Only Market

August 28, 2013: Georgetown Considers Changes to Electric, Water Rates

August 28, 2013: As Worries Over the Power Grid Rise, a Drill Will Simulate a Knockout Blow

August 28, 2013: New Data Shows Shifting US Energy Landscape, as Petroleum Exports Soar

August 27, 2013: Fraud Charges over Jonestown Wind Energy Project Go to Jury

August 27, 2013: UT Study Finds South Texas Quakes Tied to Oil Production

August 27, 2013: Hundreds Oppose Possible Paths for New Utility Line in West Frisco

August 27, 2013: Texas Electric Co-op Taps Itron For Smart Meter Deployment

August 27, 2013: Electricity Demand Patterns Matter for Valuing Electricity Supply Resources

August 27, 2013: Energy Secretary: Emission Cuts to be ‘Practical’

August 27, 2013: Entergy’s Nuclear Exit Positions Industry For Accelerated Rebound

August 27, 2013: GE and XD Electric Launch Global Transmission and Distribution Partnership

August 27, 2013: Smart Grids Opt for Deployment of ‘Synchrophasor Technologies’

August 27, 2013: Texas Generator Files Complaint at PUC Regarding ERCOT Settlement, Manual Override of High Dispatch Limit

August 27, 2013: Frontier Utilities Names New VP to Lead Commercial & Industrial Growth

August 27, 2013: Texas REP Names New CEO, Management Additions

August 27, 2013: National Petroleum and Fuels Marketer Launching Retail Energy Supply Business, Seeks Texas License

August 25, 2013: U.S.Electrical Grid on the Edge of Failure

August 23, 2013: Texans are No Slouches on Power Use

August 24, 2013: LCRA Suit Against Georgetown May Continue, Court Rules

August 26, 2013: Commodity Futures Trading Commission “Not of the View” that Retail Energy Transactions Fall Within Dodd-Frank Regulated Exchange Section

August 25, 2013: Western Union’s Failed Plan To Drive the Digital Revolution Is A Cautionary Tale For Electric Utilities

Renewable Power

August 28, 2013: Just Add Water: GE, Berkeley Lab Explore Possible Key to Energy Storage for Electric Vehicles

August 28, 2013: Willacy County, Texas Reaps wind Farm Windfall

August 29, 2013: Army Qualifies 22 Companies to Build Solar Projects under $7B Renewable Energy RFP

August 29, 2013: DOE Invests $16 million to Harness Wave and Tidal Power

August 29, 2013: Energy Efficiency Finding New Approaches

August 28, 2013: Who’s the Greenest? Environment Texas Releases 2013 Scorecard

August 28, 2013: PetersenDean Roofing and Solar Announces New Home Solar Fund

August 28, 2013: Wind Projects Form New Hale County LLC in Texas

August 28, 2013: Malouff Found Guilty in Wind Energy Fraud Case

August 28, 2013: Novel Combination Ensures Entire Solar Spectrum Harnessed

August 28, 2013: Energy Storage: Important New Industry

August 28, 2013: NREL: Wind, Solar Energy Won’t Need Federal Help by 2025

August 28, 2013: US Army Awards Contracts to 22 Solar Developers

August 27, 2013: Renewable Energy Provides 14% of US Electrical Generation During First Half of 2013

August 27, 2013: Solar Stocks Have a Day in the Sun, or Is It Just a Flare?

August 27, 2013: All of the Above” Energy Means More Fracking, Renewables, Nukes and Clean Coal

August 27, 2013: Tesla outsells Porsche, Jaguar, others in California

August 27, 2013: When a wind turbine comes knocking: Wind farms have no impact on home values

August 27, 2013: Valuation of Solar Generation Assets

August 25, 2013: Defense Spreads the Blame for Failed Wind Energy Project

August 25, 2013: Ethanol Advances Versus Gasoline as Heat Wave May Slow Output

August 25, 2013: Distributed Generation Poses Existential Threat To Utilities

August 25, 2013: When Energy Dreams Fall Short

August 23, 2013: Solar Power: Texas College Moves Forward Using Green Energy

August 23, 2013: In Texas, Big Wind Benefits From New Transmission

August 23, 2013: Renewable Energy Generates Jobs in Texas, Nationwide

August 22, 2013: Mortenson Construction Begins Construction on Spinning Spur II Wind Project in Texas

August 22, 2013: Concrete Key to Bigger Wind Towers

August 22, 2013: How Big Power Companies Are Trying To Quash The Disownership Economy

Other News

August 29, 2013: TXU Energy Named Official Electricity Sponsor of Baylor Athletics

August 28, 2013: Amerex Energy Services Launches New Website

August 29, 2013: NRG Launching New Retail Brand to Engage Customers to Think Differently About Energy, Offering Customization, 2-Cent Sundays, NFL-Themed Products in Northeast

August 25, 2013: Trees Available to Oncor Customers

==================================================================

For the Week of  8/16/13 — 8/23/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

August 22, 2013: David Stockman: The Texas Gas Bubble Massacre

August 21, 2013: Oncor Worth 8% Less After Interest Rates Rise, CreditSights Says

August 20, 2013: Luminant Will Fight DOJ Clean Air Act Lawsuit, Says it Is “Without Merit”

August 20, 2013: Luminant Says it Will Contest New EPA Lawsuit

August 19,2013: Marathon’s Richards Sees TXU Debt Restructuring Before November

August 16, 2013: U.S. sues Dallas-based Luminant, Alleging Coal plant Violations

August 16, 2013: Justice, EPA Sue Luminant on Emissions from two Texas Coal Plants, but the Public isn’t Allowed to Read the Suit Yet

August 18, 2013: Dallas Based Luminant Sued For Pollution

Generation Adequacy

August 22, 2013: Industrial Growth will Add Pressure to Texas Power Grid, Analysts Say

August 22, 2013: Companies Plan New Generation Even as Texas Power Reform Stalls

August 22, 2013: Texas Appeals Court Dismisses Coal-fired Las Brisas Case

August 21, 2013: Texas Names Third Utility Commissioner as Power Woes Loom

August 21, 2013: Rick Perry Names his Former Chief of Staff to PUC

August 21, 2013: Can a Tweak to Texas’ Energy Market Unlock Demand Response?

August 21, 2013: Could Texas Power Market be Rigged? It’s Happened Before

August 20, 2013: Opinion: Competitive Suppliers in Arizona: Outlook for Dire Resource Adequacy Consequences in Texas “Wholly Overstated”

Headlines

August 22, 2013: Back to School Contributes to Morning Electricity Spikes, TXU Energy Finds

August 22, 2013: NRG’s Reliant and ThinkEco Bring Energy-Saving Technology to Texas Businesses

August 22, 2013: NRG Energy to Offer Demand Response Capability Through Acquisition of Energy Curtailment Specialists

August 22, 2013: Former Retail Energy Vice President Launching New Online Auction Energy Broker

August 23, 2013: Texas Aggregator Adopts New Trade Name

August 22, 2013: Spicewood Property Owners Sue Pedernales Electric Cooperative over 2011 Wildfire

August 22, 2013: Councilman Klein seeks stabilized utility rates, citizen task force for Lubbock Power &Light

August 22, 2013: Projects in Texas to Keep Xcel Crews Busy

August 21, 2013: Oncor Offers Trees, Energy Savings Through New Program

August 21, 2013: Texas Coal Plant Permit Fight Dropped Amid Finance Woes

August 21, 2013: Utility Co-op Proposes Substation Project, Transmission Line Through Frisco

August 21, 2013: 10 Years After Record Blackout, is U.S. Any Better Prepared?

August 21, 2013: NERC to Hold 2nd Industrywide Grid Security Exercise

August 20, 2013: Texas-sized Power Bills Dwarf Electricity Use in Other States

August 20, 2013: Retail Supply Companies 2013 Inc. 5000 Rankings

August 20, 2013: Justice Department investigating JPMorgan Chase

August 20, 2013: Xcel Energy Subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Company Announces Debt Financing

August 20, 2013: FERC Works to Remove Barriers to Transmission Provider, Pipeline Communications

August 20, 2013: Sharyland Reports Number of Texas REPs Testing to Participate in Retail Choice in 2014, Sends Notice of Choice to Customers

August 19, 2013: ERCOT Updates App with Electricity Prices and New Look

August 19, 2013: Poor Texans’ Electric Bills to Dive, Then Go Back Up

August 19, 2013: In Texas Shale Patch, Drillers Bring Power to the Pump

August 19, 2013: Power Companies Dangle Free Nights and Weekends

August 19, 2013: U.S. Power Plants, Utilities Face Growing Cyber Vulnerability

August 17, 2013: Harker Heights Officials Demand Electricity Refund

August 19, 2013: MISO Files CONE Value Applicable to Texas Capacity Obligation

August 19, 2013: Texas Court Allows CenterPoint Utility to Collect Additional Charges from REPs

August 16, 2013: CPS Energy Rate Request Needs Thorough Look

August 16, 2013: Private Equity Preps for Power Plays in U.S. Electricity

August 16, 2013: Nuclear Plants Still Vulnerable in Many Ways, Says Univ. of Texas Report

August 15, 2013: California Ratepayers Get $750 Million in Energy Crisis Settlement

Renewable Power

August 22, 2013: The Most Attractive States for Renewable Energy

August 21, 2013: Wind Power Capacity Expanding Rapidly in U.S

August 21, 2013: Remote Sensing Will Play an Increasingly Important Role in the Wind Power Market

August 20, 2013: Pattern, GE, Citi Enter Texas Panhandle Wind Market

August 20, 2013: Construction Begins on Texas Panhandle Wind Power Project

August 20, 2013: A Solar System Is Installed in the US Every 4 Minutes

August 20, 2013: Using Dynamic Pricing to Balance Solar Power With the Smart Grid

August 20, 2013: Cost of Solar Power to Drop 75% by 2020? US Military Embraces It

August 19, 2013: University of Texas at Brownsville’s ‘Green’ Center to Close

August 19, 2013: In Texas, Oil is Big But Solar is Cheap

August 19, 2013: GE and Sandia Work on Quieter and More Productive Wind Turbines

August 19, 2013: DOE Starts Construction on New Wind Project

August 19, 2013: Defense Accuses State of ‘Selective Prosecution’ in Wind Energy Fraud Case

August 19, 2013: How Solar Power and Ice Energy Can Play Together

August 19, 2013: IBM Expert Says Utilities Should Become ‘Energy Malls’

August 18, 2013: Solar Price Trend is Sunny in Texas

August 16, 2013: Texas Claims Cheapest Solar Installations

August 17, 2013: Trash Into Gas, Efficiently? An Army Test May Tell

August 16, 2013: GE, DOE Sandia Labs Explore Low-Noise Wind Turbines; Mark Jonkhof Comments

August 15, 2013: NRG Energy Inc (NRG), Duke Energy Corp (DUK), Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA): The Future of Electric Energy

Other News

August 19, 2013: Free Shade Trees for North Texas Oncor Customers

====================================================================================

For the Week of  8/9/13 — 8/16/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

August 12, 2013: Report: Energy Future Holdings Might Be Pushed into Bankruptcy by the End of the Year

August 11, 2013: Creditors Push Energy Future Towards Restructure

August 12, 2013: Senior Creditors Press for Debt Restructuring at Buyout-owned EFH

August 12, 2013: Fitch Affirms Oncor’s IDR at ‘BBB’; Outlook Stable

August 11, 2013: Energy Future Edges Closer to Restructuring

Generation Adequacy

August 15, 2013: Power: Capacity Payments Wrong Tool to Fix a Real Problem

August 13, 2013: Texas PUC Chair Nelson Weighs Capacity, Reserve Market Issues

August 9, 2013: Big Users in Texas Oppose Major Change to Stretched Power Market

August 10, 2013: Two Years and Counting on Looming Power Shortages

August 10, 2013: Divided Utility Commission Debates Policy, Waits for Perry’s Appointee

August 9, 2013: Opinion: NRG CEO Admits Merchant Build “Nearly Impossible” in Any Market, Including Capacity Markets, As Texas Chair Nelson Says Capacity Market Warrants Exploration

August 9, 2013: Wind Energy Helps ERCOT Through Third-highest Demand in its History

Headlines

August 15, 2013: Conserving Water Important for Texas

August 15, 2013: UT Austin Study: All 107 U.S. Nuclear Reactors Vulnerable to Terrorists

August 15, 2013: DOE Selects Ten Projects including Texas to Conduct Advanced Turbine Technology Research

August 15, 2013: The Right Way to Make the Business Case for Self-healing Smart Grids

August 15, 2013: The Nation’s Electric Grid: Looking Back at 2003 and How Far We’ve Come

August 15, 2013: Businesses Back Greenhouse Gas Emissions Law

August 15, 2013: On Climate Change, Obama, EPA Plan Action Without Congress

August 15, 2013: Relentless And Disruptive Innovation Will Shortly Affect US Electric Utilities

August 15, 2013: Texas REP Promoting Free NFL Sunday Ticket, Up to $500 in Incentives

August 14, 2013: Neighbors Helping Neighbors Pay Energy Bills in San Antonio

August 14, 2013: CPS Bills Could Carry an Extra Fee

August 14, 2013: Mexico Proposes Opening Up Electric Sector to Competition

August 14, 2013: J.D. Power Reports: Customers of Texas Retail Electric Providers Are More Satisfied Than Customers of Regulated Utilities, Driven Primarily by Price

August 14, 2013: 2013 Texas Residential Retail Electric Provider Customer Satisfaction Study

August 14, 2013: Conservatives ID Next Confirmation Fight: FERC

August 14, 2013: Opinion: Lower Rates Driving Increased Satisfaction Among Texas Retail Customers with Choice; JD Power Reports Top-Ranked REPs

August 14, 2013: Texas REP Undergoing Change in Brand

August 14, 2013: Texas Commission Requests Comments in First Step in Reviewing Utility-Competitive Affiliate Rules, Restrictions

August 13, 2013: TXU hits 100,000 Customers on Free Nights and Weekends

August 13, 2013: Tips to Save Money in the Summer Heat

August 13, 2013: Stopping Copper Theft Becomes Big-time Business

August 13, 2013: Regulator: New Nuke Plant Now Wouldn’t Make Sense

August 13, 2013: Market Speculation on Perry’s PUCT Appointment

August 13, 2013: Nearly 100,000 Have Selected a TXU Energy Right Time Pricing Plan

August 12, 2013: Entergy Reminds Louisiana Customers to be Wary of Scam Artists

August 12, 2013: NRG completes Yield IPO; Brings on Lots of New Generation

August 12, 2013: Power Companies Urged to Shield U.S. Electric Grid From Weather

August 12, 2013: Texas Approves Smart Meter Opt-Out, Assigns Obligations to REPs, TDUs

August 12, 2013: Noting Concern, Texas Commission Adopts Settlement Allowing Glacial Energy of Texas, Inc. to Retain REP Certificate

August 12, 2013: NRG Retail Margins Down on Supply Costs, C&I Pressure

August 11, 2013: Temporary Power Companies Growing in Eagle Ford

August 9, 2013: Entergy, ITC Holdings Withdraw Grid Sale Plan in Texas

August 9, 2013: Entergy, ITC to Refile Texas Merger Application

August 11, 2013: CPS Energy’s Rate Increase Needed

August 11, 2013: City Council Members Skeptical of CPS Rate Increase

August 10, 2013: Oil, Gas Growing into Key Piece of Austin’s Economy

August 9, 2013: Fitch Affirms Sam Rayburn Muni Power Agency, TX Rev Rfdg Bonds Ser 2012 at ‘BBB+’; Outlook Stable

August 11, 2013: Just Energy: Not in Acquisition Mode

August 11, 2013: At a Glance: The Rising Cost of Power Outages

August 10, 2013: 10 Years After Blackout, US Grid Face New Threats

Renewable Power

August 15, 2013: Engineer Recounts ‘Red Flags’ in Jonestown Wind Energy Project

August 15, 2013: Behind Closed Doors, Utilities Grapple With New Strategies on Renewable

August 15, 2013: Intermittent Nature of Green Power Is Challenge for Utilities

August 15, 2013: Costs of Solar Energy Continue to Fall in the US

August 15, 2013: Analyst: Utilities Challenged By Spread Of Solar

August 15, 2013: Strassel: Behind an Ethanol Special Favor

August 15, 2013: States Target Hybrids As Gas Tax Revenues Ebb

August 15, 2013: Ford to Restate Hybrid Gas Mileage

August 15, 2013: Energy Dept. Reports: U.S. Wind Energy Production and Manufacturing Reaches Record Highs

August 15, 2013: GE, Sandia National Lab Discover Pathway to Quieter, More Productive Wind Turbines

August 14, 2013: Tesla to Debut Vehicle ‘Supercharger’ in San Marcos

August 14, 2013: Utility Companies Push Back On Solar Incentives

August 14, 2013: Solar Power to Trump Shale, Helped by US military

August 14, 2013: Solar, Geothermal Projects Touted at Green Energy Summit

August 13, 2013: Green Groups Present Climate Denier Award To Texas Senator

August 13, 2013: Interior Secretary Announces Solar and Geothermal Projects that Advance President’s Climate Action Plan

August 13, 2013: NNSA and Siemens Break Ground on Federal Government’s Largest Wind Farm in Texas

August 13, 2013: Government Owned Wind Energy Project in Texas Breaks Ground

August 13, 2013: Largest Federally-owned Wind Farm to Power Texas Nuclear Weapons Plant

August 13, 2013: Obama Signs Hydropower Bills

August 13, 2013: Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. Files Key Patent

August 12, 2013: Solar Advocates Want to Double Austin Energy’s Solar Use

August 12, 2013: Starwood Energy Acquires Stephens Ranch Wind Project in Texas

August 12, 2013: Let It Blow! Wind Power Swells @ US Farms

August 12, 2013: IBM Unveils Wind And Solar Forecasting System For Utilities

August 12, 2013: New IBM Wind & Solar Forecasting System Helps Optimize Renewable Energy Development

August 12, 2013: Green Power Offsets Makes It Easy To Offset Energy Consumption On New Web Site

August 12, 2013: A Tea Party Leader Explains why She’s Teaming Up with the Sierra Club to Push for Solar Power

August 12, 2013: Solar Energy Seen as a Threat by Utilities

August 12, 2013: Alfredo Moser: Bottle Light Inventor Proud to be Poor

August 11, 2013: Largest Federal Wind Farm, to Be Built in Texas, Could Save the Government Millions

August 9, 2013: BMW Picks Austin as Key Market for Electric Car

August 9, 2013: Wind Energy Accounted for Majority of New Electricity Generation in 2012

August 9, 2013: Conservatives are Starting to  Get Behind Solar Power

August 9, 2013: Big-Box Retailers Turn To Solar, How Can Electric Utilities Adapt

August 9, 2013: Texas Could Benefit from IBM’s HyRef System for Managing Renewable Energy

==================================================================================

For the Week of  8/9/13 — 8/16/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

August 12, 2013: Report: Energy Future Holdings Might Be Pushed into Bankruptcy by the End of the Year

August 11, 2013: Creditors Push Energy Future Towards Restructure

August 12, 2013: Senior Creditors Press for Debt Restructuring at Buyout-owned EFH

August 12, 2013: Fitch Affirms Oncor’s IDR at ‘BBB’; Outlook Stable

August 11, 2013: Energy Future Edges Closer to Restructuring

Generation Adequacy

August 15, 2013: Power: Capacity Payments Wrong Tool to Fix a Real Problem

August 13, 2013: Texas PUC Chair Nelson Weighs Capacity, Reserve Market Issues

August 9, 2013: Big Users in Texas Oppose Major Change to Stretched Power Market

August 10, 2013: Two Years and Counting on Looming Power Shortages

August 10, 2013: Divided Utility Commission Debates Policy, Waits for Perry’s Appointee

August 9, 2013: Opinion: NRG CEO Admits Merchant Build “Nearly Impossible” in Any Market, Including Capacity Markets, As Texas Chair Nelson Says Capacity Market Warrants Exploration

August 9, 2013: Wind Energy Helps ERCOT Through Third-highest Demand in its History

Headlines

August 15, 2013: Conserving Water Important for Texas

August 15, 2013: UT Austin Study: All 107 U.S. Nuclear Reactors Vulnerable to Terrorists

August 15, 2013: DOE Selects Ten Projects including Texas to Conduct Advanced Turbine Technology Research

August 15, 2013: The Right Way to Make the Business Case for Self-healing Smart Grids

August 15, 2013: The Nation’s Electric Grid: Looking Back at 2003 and How Far We’ve Come

August 15, 2013: Businesses Back Greenhouse Gas Emissions Law

August 15, 2013: On Climate Change, Obama, EPA Plan Action Without Congress

August 15, 2013: Relentless And Disruptive Innovation Will Shortly Affect US Electric Utilities

August 15, 2013: Texas REP Promoting Free NFL Sunday Ticket, Up to $500 in Incentives

August 14, 2013: Neighbors Helping Neighbors Pay Energy Bills in San Antonio

August 14, 2013: CPS Bills Could Carry an Extra Fee

August 14, 2013: Mexico Proposes Opening Up Electric Sector to Competition

August 14, 2013: J.D. Power Reports: Customers of Texas Retail Electric Providers Are More Satisfied Than Customers of Regulated Utilities, Driven Primarily by Price

August 14, 2013: 2013 Texas Residential Retail Electric Provider Customer Satisfaction Study

August 14, 2013: Conservatives ID Next Confirmation Fight: FERC

August 14, 2013: Opinion: Lower Rates Driving Increased Satisfaction Among Texas Retail Customers with Choice; JD Power Reports Top-Ranked REPs

August 14, 2013: Texas REP Undergoing Change in Brand

August 14, 2013: Texas Commission Requests Comments in First Step in Reviewing Utility-Competitive Affiliate Rules, Restrictions

August 13, 2013: TXU hits 100,000 Customers on Free Nights and Weekends

August 13, 2013: Tips to Save Money in the Summer Heat

August 13, 2013: Stopping Copper Theft Becomes Big-time Business

August 13, 2013: Regulator: New Nuke Plant Now Wouldn’t Make Sense

August 13, 2013: Market Speculation on Perry’s PUCT Appointment

August 13, 2013: Nearly 100,000 Have Selected a TXU Energy Right Time Pricing Plan

August 12, 2013: Entergy Reminds Louisiana Customers to be Wary of Scam Artists

August 12, 2013: NRG completes Yield IPO; Brings on Lots of New Generation

August 12, 2013: Power Companies Urged to Shield U.S. Electric Grid From Weather

August 12, 2013: Texas Approves Smart Meter Opt-Out, Assigns Obligations to REPs, TDUs

August 12, 2013: Noting Concern, Texas Commission Adopts Settlement Allowing Glacial Energy of Texas, Inc. to Retain REP Certificate

August 12, 2013: NRG Retail Margins Down on Supply Costs, C&I Pressure

August 11, 2013: Temporary Power Companies Growing in Eagle Ford

August 9, 2013: Entergy, ITC Holdings Withdraw Grid Sale Plan in Texas

August 9, 2013: Entergy, ITC to Refile Texas Merger Application

August 11, 2013: CPS Energy’s Rate Increase Needed

August 11, 2013: City Council Members Skeptical of CPS Rate Increase

August 10, 2013: Oil, Gas Growing into Key Piece of Austin’s Economy

August 9, 2013: Fitch Affirms Sam Rayburn Muni Power Agency, TX Rev Rfdg Bonds Ser 2012 at ‘BBB+’; Outlook Stable

August 11, 2013: Just Energy: Not in Acquisition Mode

August 11, 2013: At a Glance: The Rising Cost of Power Outages

August 10, 2013: 10 Years After Blackout, US Grid Face New Threats

Renewable Power

August 15, 2013: Engineer Recounts ‘Red Flags’ in Jonestown Wind Energy Project

August 15, 2013: Behind Closed Doors, Utilities Grapple With New Strategies on Renewable

August 15, 2013: Intermittent Nature of Green Power Is Challenge for Utilities

August 15, 2013: Costs of Solar Energy Continue to Fall in the US

August 15, 2013: Analyst: Utilities Challenged By Spread Of Solar

August 15, 2013: Strassel: Behind an Ethanol Special Favor

August 15, 2013: States Target Hybrids As Gas Tax Revenues Ebb

August 15, 2013: Ford to Restate Hybrid Gas Mileage

August 15, 2013: Energy Dept. Reports: U.S. Wind Energy Production and Manufacturing Reaches Record Highs

August 15, 2013: GE, Sandia National Lab Discover Pathway to Quieter, More Productive Wind Turbines

August 14, 2013: Tesla to Debut Vehicle ‘Supercharger’ in San Marcos

August 14, 2013: Utility Companies Push Back On Solar Incentives

August 14, 2013: Solar Power to Trump Shale, Helped by US military

August 14, 2013: Solar, Geothermal Projects Touted at Green Energy Summit

August 13, 2013: Green Groups Present Climate Denier Award To Texas Senator

August 13, 2013: Interior Secretary Announces Solar and Geothermal Projects that Advance President’s Climate Action Plan

August 13, 2013: NNSA and Siemens Break Ground on Federal Government’s Largest Wind Farm in Texas

August 13, 2013: Government Owned Wind Energy Project in Texas Breaks Ground

August 13, 2013: Largest Federally-owned Wind Farm to Power Texas Nuclear Weapons Plant

August 13, 2013: Obama Signs Hydropower Bills

August 13, 2013: Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. Files Key Patent

August 12, 2013: Solar Advocates Want to Double Austin Energy’s Solar Use

August 12, 2013: Starwood Energy Acquires Stephens Ranch Wind Project in Texas

August 12, 2013: Let It Blow! Wind Power Swells @ US Farms

August 12, 2013: IBM Unveils Wind And Solar Forecasting System For Utilities

August 12, 2013: New IBM Wind & Solar Forecasting System Helps Optimize Renewable Energy Development

August 12, 2013: Green Power Offsets Makes It Easy To Offset Energy Consumption On New Web Site

August 12, 2013: A Tea Party Leader Explains why She’s Teaming Up with the Sierra Club to Push for Solar Power

August 12, 2013: Solar Energy Seen as a Threat by Utilities

August 12, 2013: Alfredo Moser: Bottle Light Inventor Proud to be Poor

August 11, 2013: Largest Federal Wind Farm, to Be Built in Texas, Could Save the Government Millions

August 9, 2013: BMW Picks Austin as Key Market for Electric Car

August 9, 2013: Wind Energy Accounted for Majority of New Electricity Generation in 2012

August 9, 2013: Conservatives are Starting to  Get Behind Solar Power

August 9, 2013: Big-Box Retailers Turn To Solar, How Can Electric Utilities Adapt

August 9, 2013: Texas Could Benefit from IBM’s HyRef System for Managing Renewable Energy

==================================================================================

For the Week of  8/2/13 — 8/9/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

August 7, 2013: The Nuclear Plant that Helps Keep North Texans Cool

August 6, 2013: Fitch Downgrades the IDRs of EFH and EFIH to ‘CC’

August 2, 2013: TXU Loans Indicate Debt Restructure Before November Interest Due

August 2, 2013: Money Tightening at Energy Future Holdings

August 2, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Quarterly Loss Narrows to $71 Million

August 3, 2013: Cache of Spent Fuel Rods Grows at Comanche Peak as U.S. Disposal Stalemate Drags On

Generation Adequacy

August 8, 2013: News Release: ERCOT Experiences Third Highest Demand in History, Generation Keeps Up

August 8, 2013: Texas Power Use Hits High for this Summer, Third-highest Ever

August 8, 2013: ERCOT Demand Remains High after Wednesday Level Tops 2012 Peak

August 8, 2013: ERCOT Grid Takes the Heat, Sets 2013 Record for Power Use

August 8, 2013: Energy and Water are Running Out in Texas, But It is Not Too Late

August 6, 2013: Texas Grid is Expected to Reach Record Breaking Peak

August 7, 2013: Opinion: FirstEnergy CEO Says PJM Capacity Market Has “Fundamental Flaws” Which “Impede Investments,” “Impact Reliability”

Headlines

August 9, 2013: NRG Retail Business Sees Uptick in Customer Growth Rate

August 9, 2013: Just Energy Net Customer Growth Down Slightly on Record Gross Additions

August 9, 2013: Constellation Units to Pay $42,500 Under Texas Settlements

August 9, 2013: Texas Staff File Proposal to Require REPs to Notify Municipalities of Multi-family Dwelling Disconnections

August 9, 2013: CenterPoint Utility to Cease Charging Transition Charge to Texas REPs

August 8, 2013: El Paso Electric Commissions Rio Grande Unit, Scales Back 2013 CapEx Assumptions

August 8, 2013: Entergy Brings Nuclear Unit Back Online After Fatal Accident

August 8, 2013: First Wind-Oriented CREZ Link Energized in West Texas

August 8, 2013: NRG Energy Acquires Corpus Christi, Texas Cogeneration Plant

August 7, 2013: What Does It Mean For Energy Efficiency To Be A Resource In Texas?

August 7, 2013: Possible Power-lines Project Alarms San Benito Residents

August 7, 2013: The Electric Industry: Understanding Cyber Risk is Key to Resource Allocation

August 7, 2013: Will Microgrids Destroy Traditional Utilities… or Save Them?

August 7, 2013: Electric Power Demand Falls to Lowest Level Since 2009

August 6, 2013: Power Subsidy for Powerless Taking Hits

August 6, 2013: US Nature Gas Boom Sucks Nuclear Power into Downdraft

August 6, 2013: ETT Energizes 345kV Riley to Edith Clarke Transmission Line in West Texas

August 6, 2013: ETT Energizes Transmission Lines for Renewable Energy in Texas

August 6, 2013: Who’s Really Controlling the Grid?

August 6, 2013: How Vulnerable Are Power Companies To Cyberattack?

August 5, 2013: ETT Energizes First of Seven CREZ Transmission Lines in West Texas; Others Slated for Completion by Year-end

August 5, 2013: Two CREZ Line Project Workers Plunge to their Death

August 5, 2013: Where Two Big Thirsts Collide: The Nexus of Energy and Water

August 3, 2013: Texas REP Offering $600 Incentive for Enrollment

August 5, 2013: Texas REPs Would Remain Responsible for Collecting Monthly Smart Meter Opt-Out Fee Under Staff Proposal

August 5, 2013: Texas Staff File Proposal to Allow Affiliate to Assume REP’s Non-Volunteer POLR Obligation

August 3, 2013: Council Seeks Clear Path on Lubbock Power &Light

August 3, 2013: Collin County Man Convicted in Fake Power Plant Case

August 3, 2013: House Limits Obama on Environment Regulations

August 2, 2013: Dynegy Sees Drop in Gas Generation Volume on Low Spark Spreads

August 2, 2013: FERC Approves MISO Proposal for Multi-period Monthly FTR Auctions

Renewable Power

August 8, 2013: Why A Former Energy Secretary Thinks Texas Should Lead The Country In Clean Energy

August 8, 2013: Several Texas Power Companies Have Made a Big Push into Wind Energy

August 8, 2013: McAllen Resurrects Electric Bus Project

August 8, 2013: What Is the Best Solar Power Plant Technology to Cut Land Costs?

August 8, 2013: State Renewable-energy Laws Turn Out to be Incredibly Hard to Repeal

August 7, 2013: Tesla Shares Get A Charge Out Of Another Surprise Profit

August 7, 2013: Texas Renewables 2013 Explores the Shifting Texas Energy Market

August 7, 2013: The Road That Gives Electric Vehicles A Charge

August 7, 2013: Study Finds Price of Wind Energy in the U.S. Near All-time Low

August 7, 2013: EIA: Wind, Solar & Biofuels Seeing Good Growth

August 7, 2013: EPA Screens Thousands of Contaminated Sites for Renewable Energy Potential

August 7, 2013: How West Texas Wind Power will Reach North Texas

August 6, 2013: Texas Breezes Along as US Wind Power Leader

August 6, 2013: Q&A with Kate Galbraith on Wind, Water and Leaving Texas

August 6, 2013: EPA Revisits Ethanol Mandate as Fuel Use Slips

August 6, 2013: EPA Eases Rule on Renewable Fuels

August 6, 2013: US Refiners, Plagued by RINsanity, See “Half Step” on Biofuels

August 6, 2013: Are Electric Vehicles the Answer?

August 6, 2013: A Hankering for Hybrids

August 6, 2013: U.S. Wind Power Fastest-growing Energy Source in 2012, Report Says

August 6, 2013: U.S. Wind Power Coming Closer to Home

August 6, 2013: Texas Tops the Country in Wind Power, According to Energy Department

August 6, 2013: First Solar Acquires US and Mexico Portfolio from Element Power

August 6, 2013: Xcel Energy Looks to Increase US Wind Energy Capacity by 30%

August 5, 2013: Texas Leads the Way in Wind Energy

August 5, 2013: Not Too Little Wind Energy, But Too Much

August 5, 2013: Ironically, Texas Embraces Renewable Energy in ‘The Great Texas Wind Rush’

August 2, 2013: Bank Enters 10-Year Deal To Power Texas Branches With Green Energy

August 5, 2013: UCLA Researchers Double Efficiency of See-Through Solar Power

August 3, 2013: Austin Solar Company Heliovolt Raises Another $9.5 Million, Lays Groundwork for Expansion

August 4, 2013: Ozone Survey for Central Texas Ends Thursday

August 5, 2013: BBVA Compass Selects Electric Supplier for 300 Branches Under Deal Brokered By Choice! Energy Services

August 2, 2013: Wind Power Advances in U.S. with First Offshore Lease Auction

August 2, 2013: BP Drops Plan to Sell Wind Farms

August 2, 2013: Solar Could Supply One-third of Power in U.S. West

August 2, 2013: Big Nuke Company Decides Renewables are a Better Bet in the U.S.

=========================================================

For the Week of  7/26/13 — 8/2/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

August 2, 2013: Losses at Energy Future Holdings Shrink

August 2, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Reports Second Quarter 2013 Results

August 2, 2013: TXU Parent Sees Churn Continue at Lower Rate During Q2

August 1, 2013: Luminant’s Comanche Peak Unit 2 Achieves 20 Years of Operations

Generation Adequacy

August 1, 2013: ERCOT Going Full Speed as 100-Degree Days Return

August 1, 2013: ERCOT to Hit 65,000 MW Peak Load for First Time This Year

August 1, 2013: New PUCT Commissioner Should Push For More Energy Efficiency In Texas

August 2, 2013: Direct Energy Now Sees Market Purchases, Not Generation Ownership, as Best Mechanism to Manage Texas Super-peaks, Weather Risk

August 2, 2013: Opinion: Centrica Exec’s Comments Highlight How Capacity Market Would Put Independent Texas REPs Out of Business

July 31, 2013: Power Prices Gain on Texas Grid as Hotter Weather Boosts Demand

July 31, 2013: Opinion: Texas REPs: Administrative Pricing Imposing Costs on Us = Bad; Administrative Costs Imposed on Load = Good

July 30, 2013: Challenges Facing Power Generators in ERCOT

July 29, 2013: Solar and Wind Get Higher Capacity Values From ERCOT: Texas Takes a Step Toward Becoming a Capacity Market

July 29, 2013: Cleaning Up Coal Plants in Texas

Headlines

August 1, 2013: Xcel Energy Management Discusses Q1 2013 Results

August 1, 2013: Why an Easy Energy-Efficiency Bill Is So Hard

August 1, 2013:  Energy Secretary Moniz: ‘There’s no war on coal’

August 1, 2013: U.S. Rep. Murphy Seeks to Block New Carbon Dioxide Regulations

August 1, 2013: Experts Advocate an Executive Approach to Cyber Attacks

July 31, 2013: CPS Looking to Raise its Rates 4% to 5%

July 31, 2013: Exelon’s CEO Discusses Q2 2013 Results

August 1, 2013: Exelon: Retail Environment Remains “Challenging,” Cuts Margin and Volume Outlook

July 31, 2013: Direct Energy Chief Credits Team in Big Buys

August 1, 2013: Direct Energy’s Increased Scale Offsetting Lower Margins

July 31, 2013: Texas Energy Provider Gives Free Power at Night to Electric Car Owners

July 31, 2013: EDF Begins Withdrawal From U.S. Nuclear

July 31, 2013: Goliad TX Residents Appeal EPA Ruling on Uranium Mining

July 31, 2013: Kochs Hire Ex-Cantor Aide to Lobby against Carbon Tax

July 31, 2013: Opinion: Former Texas PUC Chair Urges Smart Meter Opt-Out, Asks PUC to Minimize Opt-Out Costs

July 31, 2013: Texas REP Source Power & Gas Launches Phase 1 of Smart Grid Strategy

July 30, 2013: Direct Energy Business Announced for Buying Hess Energy Marketing Business (Including Retail Supply) in $1 Billion Transaction

July 30, 2013: Oncor Transmission Line Projects Underway

July 30, 2013: Texas Now Has Nearly 48 percent of the Country’s Oil and Gas rigs

July 30, 2013: JPMorgan Looks to Pay to Settle U.S. Inquiries

July 30, 2013: With New Head of EPA, Battles With Texas Likely to Continue

July 30, 2013: Guess What Happened When Two States Tried to Stop the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Rules

July 29, 2013: Texas Coalition for Affordable Powers: Member Cities Receive Summer Dividends

July 25, 2013: CenterPoint Energy Declares $0.2075 Quarterly Dividend

July 29, 2013: Laguna Madre-area Residents Lose Power Monday

July 29, 2013: JPMorgan Pays Hefty Sum to Settle ‘Manipulation’ Charges

July 30, 2013: FERC, JP Morgan Unit Agree to $410 Million in Penalties, Disgorgement to Ratepayers

July 29, 2013: American Electric Power Co. Rating Reiterated by Zacks (AEP)

July 29, 2013: FERC Seeks More Info on Market Power Impacts from Dynegy Acquisition of Ameren Energy Resources

July 26, 2013: Low-income Texans to See Big Discounts on Electric Bills for Several Summers

July 26, 2013: Lubbock Power & Light Investigates Billing Glitch; Council, Utility Board to Meet Tuesday

July 26, 2013: NextEra Energy Board Declares Quarterly Dividend

July 26, 2013: AEP’s Profit Drops, Sales are Flat as Maintenance Costs Rise

July 26, 2013: Summit’ Texas Clean Energy Project Still Moving Forward

July 26, 2013: Federal Court Rules for EPA in Texas Suit over Greenhouse Gases

July 27, 2013: Texas Loses Bid to Stop EPA Takeover of Greenhouse Gas Rules

Renewable Power

August 1, 2013: Sundance Square a Green Giant Among Texas Green Power Players

August 1, 2013: Xcel Energy Plans to Grow Wind Power by 30%: Lowering Customer Costs & Cutting Emissions

August 1, 2013: ABB and Baldor Wind Turbine Technology Recognized at New SWiFT Facility in Texas

August 1, 2013: Solar Friendly Communities Help Mitigate Soft Costs

July 31, 2013: Milestone Claimed in Creating Fuel from Waste

July 30, 2013: The Cost Of Solar

July 30, 2013: Xcel Energy Plans to Grow Wind Power by 30 Percent

July 30, 2013: Dallas Firm Uses Solar to Power West Texas Oil Rigs

July 29, 2013: Texas Researchers Hoping to Give Boost to Offshore Wind Turbines

July 29, 2013: A Claim That Electric Cars Aren’t Green Fuels Firestorm

July 29, 2013: It is Time We Learn What Green Energy Costs States and Cities

July 29, 2013: E.ON Climate & Renewables Closes Financing for Anacacho Wind Farm in Texas

July 29, 2013: How to Invest in the Future of Geothermal Energy

July 29, 2013: Solar Energy Threatening the Future of US Electricity?

July 29, 2013: Supercomputers Take the US Electric Grid to the Next Level

July 29, 2013: States Weigh Compact to Bolster Energy Grid

July 29, 2013: Thin, Flexible Glass could Store Energy for Electric Cars, Wind Turbines

July 26, 2013: BP Cancels Sale of US Wind Business

July 26, 2013: Dallas Firm Uses Solar to Power West Texas Oil Rigs

Other News

August 1, 2013: Texas REP Receives Authorization to Use Trade Name Accel Electric

July 31, 2013: Oncor Reminds City and Emergency Workers the Dangers of Power Lines

July 26, 2013: Oncor Responds to Accusations

============================================

For the Week of  7/19/13 — 7/26/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

July 25, 2013: KKR Group’s TXU Stake Hanging on $1.48 Billion of Bonds

July 23, 2013: EFH Debt Negotiations Resume

July 23, 2013: TXU’s EFIH Said to Prepare Debt-Reduction Plan for Restructuring

Generation Adequacy

July 26, 2013: Calpine Exec Says Not All New Capacity Clearing PJM Capacity Market Likely to Get Built

July 26, 2013: Calpine Exec: Low Gas Prices Will Separate “Men from the Boys,” Drive M&A

July 26, 2013: AEP CEO: Treatment Under PJM Capacity Market is “Socialism”

July 24, 2013 Analysis Shows Latest Operating Reserves Demand Curve Proposals Would Enhance ERCOT Resource Adequacy

July 24, 2013: TXU Energy Sweepstakes Offers Year of Free Electricity

July 23, 2013: At Center of Oil Boom, Electricity Costs Soar

July 23, 2013: Texas Ranks High for Electric Grid Improvements

July 23, 2013: Report Ranks Top 15 Smart Grid States

July 23, 2013: Wholesale Electricity Prices Rose across the United States

July 23, 2013: Wholesale Electricity Prices Increase Across the Lower 48 States

July 21, 2013: Evaluate Risk of Congestion Charges

July 22, 2013: Electricity Prices in Texas are on the Rise

July 20, 2013: Texas Regulator Lays Out Options to Spur Decision on Power Scarcity Pricing Plan

July 21, 2013: PUCT’s Anderson Offers Final Proposals for Operating Reserves Demand Curve

July 20, 2013: Rising Natural Gas Prices Boost Electric Prices

July 19, 2013: PUCT Open Meeting 7/19/13 The Commission held a brief discussion about resource adequacy, noting Commissioner Anderson’s memo with proposed options for the Operating Reserve Demand Curve (ORDC) inputs.  The Commission asked for additional comments from parties, with specific numbers, as well as further data and analyses of several ORDC scenarios and the timing and cost of real-time co-optimization. The Commission also heard oral arguments in the SWEPCO rate case, discussed the need for a stringent review of attorney fees in rate case expenses, and laid out preliminary legal questions for the Entergy’s transmission assets transfer case. To read more, please subscribe to Texas Electric Policy News. If you are interested in purchasing this TEPN issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Policy News, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151.

Headlines

July 25, 2013: Cheap Electricity Available for Low-income Texans

July 25, 2013: Low Income Texans to Receive 82 Percent Electric Discounts

July 25, 2013: CenterPoint Energy Declares $0.2075 Quarterly Dividend

July 25, 2013: CPS Moving Away From Coal as New Rules Near

July 25, 2013: White House Aides, Utility Reps Huddle on Power Plant Carbon Regs

July 25, 2013: Buffett Says Coal’s Slide to Be Permanent, Yet Gradual

July 25, 2013: EPA Ozone Pollution Standard Upheld by U.S. Appeals Court

July 25, 2013: 75% of TXU Customer Service Interactions Occurring Through Self-Service, Electronic Channels

July 25, 2013: NRG Counting Down to Launch of NRG Residential Solutions; NFL-branded Products and Smart Energy Products Coming?

July 24, 2013: Calif., Texas Tie for States with Most Smart Grid Progress

July 24, 2013: American Electric Power Declares Quarterly Dividend On Common Stock

July 24, 2013: Greenhouse Gas Seen as Clean Source of Electricity

July 24, 2013: Senior House Republican Readies EPA Power Plant Regs Bill

July 24, 2013: Agencies at Odds Over Pollution Controls

July 24, 2013: Future Energy Production Threatened by Water Shortages

July 23, 2013: Texas Electric Co-op At Forefront Of Customer Engagement

July 23, 2013: Lubbock Residents Protest LP&L

July 23, 2013: Fitch Affirms and Withdraws Georgetown, TX’s Combined Utilty Revs at ‘AA-’; Outlook Negative

July 23, 2013: Proposed EPA Regulations for Coal-fired Power Plants Could Reduce Water Pollutants

July 23, 2013: Silver lining? Greenhouse Gas could be Vast, Untapped Source of Energy

July 23, 2013: FERC Assesses $453 million in Civil Penalties against Barclays for Western Power Market Manipulation

July 23, 2013: Senior House Republican Readies EPA Power Plant Regs Bill

July 23, 2013: Bill limiting EPA Power Draws Veto Threat

July 22, 2013: California and Texas Smart Grid Success Shows Way Forward For US

July 22, 2013: Tensions Rise in Canutillo: El Paso Electric, Residents at Odds over Power Lines

July 22, 2013: Time To Short Your Electric Utility?

July 22, 2013: Banks Caught Manipulating Electricity Trading Now Face Billions in Fines

July 21, 2013: Can America’s Energy Infrastructure Survive Severe Weather?

July 19, 2013: NRG Energy, Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend

Renewable Power

July 25, 2013: Antarctica Turbine Tested in the Panhandle

July 25, 2013: East Austin Based LifeWorks Leading the Game in Solar Energy

July 25, 2013: The Great Texas Wind Rush

July 25, 2013: Solar Sales Moving From Sofa to Websites to Speed Orders

July 25, 2013: With i3 Electric Car, BMW Tries to Ease Range Anxiety

July 25, 2013: Renewables, Nuclear Power Will Be World’s Fastest-Growing Energy Sources

July 25, 2013: FERC Order Increases Opportunity for Energy Storage

July 25, 2013: EIA Data Shows Biomass Power Production Up in May

July 23, 2013: Solar PV: The True Value of Distributed Energy

July 23, 2013: State Government Support Leads to More Solar Installations

July 24, 2013: House Lawmakers Say Renewable-Fuel Mandate Will Change

July 24, 2013: Duke Energy Investigates Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Technology

July 24, 2013: Powered by the Sun, But Off to a Slow Start

July 23, 2013: Firms Ink Deal on Wind Farm

July 23, 2013: Powered by the Sun, Solar Impulse Takes Flight

July 23, 2013: Solar and Wind Surge, but Dirty Energy still Dominates, as this Nifty Chart Shows

July 22, 2013: EDF Agrees to Buy 200-Megawatt Wind Project in Texas Panhandle

July 22, 2013: EDF Renewable Energy Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Hereford Wind Project in Texas

July 22, 2013: NRG Executive has Big Plans for Solar

July 22, 2013: Grass-roots Group Hopes to Make Plano a Solar Power Leader

July 22, 2013: Vestas Joins DOE, Texas Tech to Break Ground on Unique Wind Research Facility

July 22, 2013: Alternative Energy Vehicles Spawn Road-range Concerns

July 22, 2013: Here’s How Wind and Solar Can Save More Lives and Prevent More Pollution

July 22, 2013: Ethanol Cure Worse Than the Disease?

July 19, 2013: Odessa Solar Farm Project in Jeopardy

July 21, 2013: Should Subsidies for Wind Power End? NO

July 20, 2013: Study: Consumers Unwilling to Pay More for Renewable Energy

July 20, 2013: Staying Grounded: Safely Working with Wind Power

Other News

July 26, 2013: Texas REP Andeler Power Announces New Credit and Supply Facility, Names New EVP of Supply

July 21, 2013: Fort Worth Students Get Ready to Take a Sun-powered Roadtrip to California

July 21, 2013: Teams Prepare for Solar Car Challenge at TMS

July 23, 2013: Champion Energy Services Announces Next Market Entry

July 21, 2013: Texas Issues Written Order Adopting Competitive Generation Service Tariff at Entergy

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For the Week of  7/12/13 — 7/19/13

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

July 17, 2013: Oncor Schedules Second Quarter 2013 Investor Call

July 17, 2013: Luminant Donates Rare Plants to the Dallas Arboretum

July 17, 2013: Energy Future Holdings’ Mesquite Data Center Earns LEED Silver Certification

July 14, 2013: At Texas Electric Firm, Users May Hold Key

Generation Adequacy

July 19, 2013: Texas, With Energy-Only Market, Only State With Retail Choice in CNBC Top 10 States for Business and Capacity Market States Fare Poorly

July 17, 2013: ERCOT Board Takes Pass on Increasing Texas Power Reserve Margin

July 16, 2013: Sen. Troy Fraser Letter to ERCOT Board 7/15/13

July 16, 2013: Chairman Craven Crowell letter to Sen. Troy Fraser 7/16/13

July 16, 2013: A High-level Showdown on Energy Costs

July 16, 2013: ERCOT Postpones Vote on Electricity Reserves Target

July 16, 2013: ERCOT Won’t Institute “Self-Serving” Changes to the Texas Electricity Market Yet

July 16, 2013: ERCOT Board Defers Decision on Modifying Reserve Margin Target

July 16, 2013: Power Reserve Margin Should Not Be Altered, Senator Says

July 16, 2013: Tony Bennett: ‘Capacity Market’ Means Electric Tax for Texans

July 16, 2013: Marion Area Electrical Power Plant Plans $7.5M Expansion

July 16, 2013: Cool Weather Gives ERCOT Grid a Summer Vacation

July 15, 2013: ERCOT Again Tackles Electricity Reserve Issue

July 16, 2013: Texas Senate Chair Warns Inflated Reserve Margin Target Skews Debate in Favor of Capacity Market

July 14, 2013: Opinion: The Case for a Texas Capacity Market

Headlines

July 18, 2013: GDF Suez, Alstom to Upgrade U.S. Natural Gas Power Plants

July 18, 2013: Opinion: Develop our ‘Electricity Bandwidth’

July 18, 2013: FERC Increases Scrutiny of Electricity Market

July 18, 2013: Barrasso Bill Blocks President’s National Energy Tax

July 18, 2013: US EPA Seeks to Huddle with Power Companies on Carbon Regulations

July 18, 2013: ETT and Sharyland file application for 345kV transmission line in Texas

July 18,2013: TXU Energy, Cross Country Home Services Announce Partnership to Deliver Home Warranty Services in Texas

July 17, 2013: Bryan Texas Utility Aims to Keep Up With Shifts in ERCOT Rates with Separate Charge on Bills

July 17, 2013: Eminent Domain: How the Courts are Transforming Texas Land Rights

July 17, 2013: Falling Gas Prices Lower SPP Electricity Prices in June

July 16, 2013: Oncor Restoring Power after Scattered Storms in North Texas

July 16, 2013: NRG Yield: How to Plug Electricity–IPO Shows Great Timing and Highlights the Investment Challenge in the U.S. Electricity Sector

July 16, 2013: Entergy Provides Preliminary Second Quarter Earnings Guidance

July 16, 2013: More than 60 Entities Urge FERC to Stick with Transmission ROE Policy

July 15, 2013: Reliant Degrees of Difference Rewards Lower Electricity Use During Energy Rush Hours

July 16, 2013: New Online Shopping Portal Zonesty Launches Texas Service; Reliant Promoting Previously Launched Critical Peak Rebate/Thermostat Bundle

July 15, 2013: Eminent Domain: In Texas, Landowners Face Continued Uncertainty

July 15, 2013: Kerrville Electric Utility Countersues LCRA

July 15, 2013: Obama Puts Climate Plan to Action—Within His Power

July 14, 2013: The Watchdog: Smart Thermostat Contract’s Huge Termination Fee Shocks Electric Customer

July 12, 2013: Oncor energizes 345-kV Riley-Krum West transmission project in Texas

July 12, 2013: How U.S. Industry Can Support the Economy and Cut Emissions Through Combined Heat and Power – and Help Fulfill President Obama’s Climate Plan

July 14, 2013: Congress Dithers on Warming

July 12, 2013: In Obama Climate Plan, States Seek Flexibility

Renewable Power

July 18, 2013: The Solar Industry Responds to Utility Attacks on Net Metering

July 18, 2013: Charged Up about Electric Cars

July 18, 2013: Solar Power to Reduce Utility Profits in Five Years, Fitch Says

July 18, 2013: U.S. Breaks Solar Barrier with 10 GW of PV Installations

July 17, 2013: Harnessing the Sun: Solar Panels a Way of Life for Plano Group

July 17, 2013: US Army Looks to Renewables

July 17, 2013: Green with Anger: The Future is Now for Electric Vehicles

July 16, 2013: Governor Perry: The Surprise Clean Energy Champion?

July 16, 2013: Wind Industry Relying Less on Government Funding

July 16, 2013: NRG Solar buys 25.6MW Solar Energy Project in Guam from Houston Based Quantum Utility Generation

July 16, 2013: Future is Bright as Wind Becomes Mainstream American Energy

July 16, 2013: No State in the Nation is Less Green than Texas

July 16, 2013: In Quest for Energy, Biofuels Gaining Ground

July 16, 2013: Angry Birds? No, But Obama’s Wind Energy Subsidies Have Them Very Frightened

July 15, 2013: Broadwind Energy Gets $87M in New Tower Orders

July 15, 2013: US Can’t Afford to Cede Green Energy Industry to Its Competitors

July 15, 2013: Google invests $1 billion in renewable energy

July 15, 2013: Use of Solar Power Rising in US

July 15, 2013: House Cuts Clean Energy Funding, Dragging Down An Entire Community Of American Innovators

July 14, 2013: Wind Turbines Change Texas Willacy County’s Landscape — for Better or Worse

July 13, 2013: Solar-charged Challenge

July 12, 2013: Xcel Energy Plans Significant Increase in Wind Power Purchases including Texas

July 12, 2013: United States Joins Elite 10 Gigawatt Solar Club

Other News

July 19, 2013: New Start-up REP Receives Texas Certificate

July 16, 2013: MDME, LLC Receives Texas Aggregator Certificate

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For the Week of  7/5/13 — 7/12/13

Today’s News Flash by Texas Electric News

News Flash Archive

Texas Headlines

Energy Future Holdings

July 9, 2013: How Texans Could Be on the Hook if Energy Future Holdings Goes Bankrupt

Generation Adequacy

July 11, 2013: Texas Wholesale Power Gains as Hotter Weather Boosts Demand

July 12, 2013: Opinion: Capacity Markets: Encouraging Gold-Plating of the Electric System

July 8, 2013: Opinion: Texas Should Say No to Electricity Tax On 7/7/13, the Austin American Statesman published an opinion piece by Tony Bennett, the president of the Texas Association of Manufacturers, titled “Bennett: Texas Should Say No to Electricity Tax ” (subscription only).  In it, he warns against “an ill-conceived push to switch Texas from a competitive, deregulated-electricity market to a capacity market,” which will create a tax on everyone with a meter.  He also cautions that “a shift to capacity market would threaten competition, choice, and access to affordable, reliable energy in Texas for everyone.”

July 5, 2013: Report: PUCT Continues to Tackle Resource Adequacy This 10-page Texas Electric Watch captures in detail the latest PUCT workshop on resource adequacy, which focused on the Option B+ proposal, as drafted by Prof. Hogan and ERCOT staff.  The points covered include the main issues of contention and history of the proposal, staff presentations of several recent studies, stakeholder positions, and the Commission’s questions and discussions (including at the latest open meeting). Read more about this report, please subscribe to TEW. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

July 7, 2013: Summer Sun Brings a Focus to Power Debate

July 5, 2013: PUC will Wait Out Summer before Changing Texas Electricity Market

Headlines

July 11, 2013: When the Electricity Market Heats Up, TXU Energy Business Customers Can Cash In with Brighten Reduction Rewards

July 11, 2013: Direct Energy to acquire Bounce Energy for $46 Million

July 11, 2013: Direct Energy to Acquire Bounce Energy

July 11, 2013: Rate Cuts Aim to Ease Entergy Transmission Worries

July 11, 2013: ETT And Sharyland File Joint CCN Application For Cross Valley 345-kV Transmission Line Project From North Edinburg To Loma Alta

July 11, 2013: Climate Change Will Cause More Energy Breakdowns, U.S. Warns

July 11, 2013: HII Technologies Announces New Equipment for Its South Texas Power Division

July 11, 2013: Texas PUC Staff Proposes to Set System Benefit Fund Charge to $0

July 11, 2013: Texas PUC Staff Proposes Rate Reduction Pan for Low Income Customers

July 11, 2013: Texas Staff File to Set SBF Fee Charged to REPs at $0, Set New LIDA Discount

July 10, 2013: Luminant Petitions Court to Close Three Miles of FM 1794

July 10, 2013: EIA: Electricity Sales to Rise by 1.6% in 2013

July 10, 2013: EIA: Production, Economics Drive Industrial Gas Use as Costs Cut Demand for Generation

July 9, 2013: Texas Firms Propose New Transmission Line for Rio Grande Valley in US

July 9, 2013: Texas ALJs: Entergy/ITC Transaction, “Circumventing Some Of The Purposes Behind The Transfer To Competition”

July 9, 2013: Two North Texans Running for Open Texas Railroad Commission Seat

July 9, 2013: Texas Calls for 317 MW of Compressed Air Energy Storage

July 9, 2013: Luminant Petitions Court to Close Three Miles of FM 1794

July 9, 2013: DOE Launches Two Websites for Monitoring of Energy Consumption

July 9, 2013: Texas Opens Proceeding on Cease and Desist Authority

July 2, 2013: TXU Energy, Priority Power Management Cheer Energy Efficiency at George W. Bush Presidential Center

July 8, 2013: Cutting Power Plants’ Carbon Pollution ‘Can Create Jobs

July 8, 2013: Start-Up Pioneer Power Seeks Texas REP Certificate

July 8, 2013: Texas Power to Choose Implements New Changes, Including Scoring of REPs

July 3, 2013: Power Prices Rise From Boston to Washington to Texas Amid Hotter Weather

July 7, 2013: Austin Energy Moves to Drop Coal

July 8, 2013: Texas Puts Luminant Mining Under Closer Financial Scrutiny

July 6, 2013: Leaders Weigh Options in Splitting City of Lubbock Utility Bills

July 5, 2013 TXU Energy Unveils Time-based Plans for Small and Medium-sized Businesses

July 6, 2013: Austin Energy Creating Text Notification, Smartphone Programs

July 3, 2013: The New Energy Sweet Spot Is Storage

Renewable Power

July 11, 2013: Gas, Renewables to Compete, Augment Each Other in Texas Power Sector

July 11, 2013: US Energy Industry Feeling Impact of Climate Change, Report Says

July 11, 2013: Criminal Charges Against Solyndra Founder are Unlikely – Sources

July 10, 2013: REG Begins Producing Biodiesel in Texas

July 10, 2013: Texas University Plans World’s Largest Solar Testing Center

July 10, 2013: Wind to Double and Solar to Triple in 6 Years, Says IEA

July 10, 2013: Xcel Energy’s SPS Unit Signs Deals for Nearly 700 MW of Wind Energy

July 10, 2013: Different Image: Renewable Energy Googled — Literally

July 10, 2013: More Bases Accepting Solar Power as an Energy Alternative

July 10, 2013: Third Party Solar Financing, Project Bonds Dominate Q2 2013 Solar Industry Transactions

July 10, 2013: Cow Excrement could Power Several Thousand Homes

July 10, 2013: REG Begins Producing Biodiesel in Texas

July 9, 2013: SWIFT at Lubbock Commissioned to Study Wind Farm Optimization

July 8, 2013: Google Becoming Big Energy Player

July 8, 2013: NRG Renewable-energy Unit Seeking up to $411M through IPO

July 8, 2013: Electric Vehicle Tariffs on Average 34% Cheaper Than eGallon

July 8, 2013: Solar Companies See a Bright Future in the U.S.

July 8, 2013: Google Gets Results in its Search for Renewable Energy

July 7, 2013: Houston’s Energy Enigma

July 6, 2013: How Texas Won the Race to Harness the Wind

July 6, 2013: Austin Solar Company Gets More Money from Korean Conglomerate

July 6, 2013: 3 Reasons Wal-Mart Isn’t the Worst

July 6, 2013: The Amazing Energy Race

July 6, 2013: Renewables Fuel Early U.S., But Fossil Fuels Dominate Future

July 6, 2013: Solar Plane Takes Off on Last Flight of US Journey

July 6, 2013: Solar Impulse: Solar-powered Plane Finishes Journey, Lands in New York City

July 5, 2013: Another Day, Another Giant SolarCity Project

July 5, 2013: More than 600 Homes at Holloman Air Force Base Going Solar

July 3, 2013: Renewable Energy Begins Biodiesel Production at Texas plant

July 5, 2013: Floating Offshore Turbines being Developed at Texas A&M Can Reduce Wind Energy Cost

Other News

July 10, 2013: Texas REP Seeks to Use Trade Name Accel Electric; Direct Energy to Drop Trade Names Central Power and Light, West Texas Utilities from Certificates

July 9, 2013: J.D. Power Awards Ambit Energy with Highest Ranking in Retail Electric Provider Satisfaction in New York Region

July 9, 2013: Galt Power Receives Texas REP Certificate

July 4, 2013: Scientists from UT Austin Developing a Seawater-desalination Chip with Electrical Field

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For the Week of  6/28/13 — 7/5/13

Texas Headlines

Generation Adequacy

July 3, 2013: Opinion: Language in Op-Ed by NRG Could Have Unintended Consequences

July 1, 2013: Mothballed Central Texas Power Plant Could Reopen

June 29, 2013: Tradinghouse Power Plant May Get New Life

June 28, 2013: Texas Public Utility Commission Ponders Stopgap Measure for Electrical Grid

July 1, 2013: Capacity Market No Longer Designed to Clear at Lowest Cost

July 1, 2013: Short Report: PUCT Workshop on Resource Adequacy, 6/27/13 The 6/27/13 PUCT workshop contained a thorough discussion of resource adequacy issues and whether the B+ proposal would be a good way to address them.  After improvements were urged for the proposal, the Commission took a cautious approach, resolving to study and discuss issues further.  Read a summary of the main points in the latest short version of TEW. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

June 30, 2013: Debate over Thinning Power Supplies in Texas Drags Out

June 29, 2013: Electricity Prices Soar in West Texas as Shale Drilling Expands

June 28, 2013: Utilities may Climb Amid Strain of Summer Heat

June 28, 2013: No Substantive Opposition to Operating Reserves Demand Curve Proposal

Headlines

July 5, 2013: Luminant Disputes Valuation of Rusk County Plant

July 5, 2013: Oncor Upgrading Electric Lines over the Next Few Months

July 5, 2013: ERCOT Files NPRR to Implement Loads in SCED

July 3, 2013: Report: PUCT Open Meeting 7/3/13 At  the 7/3/13 open meeting, the Commission refused to dismiss a REP from a complaint proceeding, approved a Non-Unanimous Stipulation on rate case expenses, set out criteria for smart-meter opt-out, and discussed how to proceed on resource adequacy.  More details in the latest TEPN. If you are interested in purchasing this TEPN issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Policy News, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

July 3, 2013: PUCT Opens Project to Investigate Potential Impacts of an Increase of the System-Wide Offer Cap to Retail Markets.

July 5, 2013: Texas to Proceed With Evaluation of REP Credit Requirements, POLR Rules, In Light of Higher Price Caps

July 5, 2013: ERCOT Reports Short Payment due to Late Payment by Milagro Power Company (QSE), PSEG Energy Resources and Trade

July 5, 2013: Texas Commissioners Agree on Entity Responsible for Collecting Smart Meter Opt-Out Fee (TDU vs. REP)

July 3, 2013: Opt Out of Smart Meters? It Will Cost You.

July 3, 2013: Smart Meter Opponents to get Opt-out Provision

July 3, 2013: Fossil Fuels Get Early Benefits from Climate Change Initiative

July 3, 2013: Project Aims to Raise Level of Debate over Energy

July 2, 2013: Watson Continues Push for Independent Board for Austin Energy

July 1, 2013: Dresser-Rand Awarded Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Project

June 28, 2013: Summer Electric Bills Bigger in Texas

July 1, 2013:  Capture of Carbon Dioxide may Aid coal, Oil

July 1, 2013: Fitch: Smart Meters Move To The Head Of The Class

July 1, 2013: Are Consumers Ready to be Empowered by Smart Power Meters?

June 28, 2013: For East Texas Coal Belt, Dread over New Climate-change Rules

June 28, 2013: Corona Seeks Legal Opinion on Governance of Austin

June 28, 2013: Combined Heat-Energy Power System Can Cut Emissions (Op-Ed)

June 28, 2013: Wellinghoff Sees Utilities in ‘Huge Battle’ over Distributed Generation

June 28, 2013: In Texas Shale Patch, Drillers Bring Power to the Pump

June 28, 2013: Trade Group asks FERC to Consider Revamping Transmission ROE Policies

Renewable Power

July 4, 2013: EIA: Energy Sources Have Changed throughout History of United States

July 2, 2013: Solar Panel Plant still Underway at San Antonio

July 2, 2013: Oil, Gas and Solar Lead Freedom from OPEC

July 2, 2013: The Clean, Simple Solar and Storage Solution to US Utility Business Model Woes

July 1, 2013: Moody Gardens Adds Solar-powered Recycling Stations

July 1, 2013: Austin Announces New Wind Contracts

July 1, 2013: El Paso Electric Company : Macho Springs Solar Project Breaks Ground

June 28, 2013: New Solar Project to Power Texas A&M-Central Texas Campus

June 28, 2013: Central Texas Dreams Big for Solar Energy Center

June 28, 2013: Next Generation Wind Energy

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For the Week of  6/21/13 — 6/28/13

Texas Headlines

Generation Adequacy

June 27, 2013: Search for Energy in Texas Intensifies Demand for Power

June 26, 2013: PUCT Staff’s Memo to Discuss Retail Market Impacts from Increase of High System Wide Offer Cap

June 27, 2013: Texas Staff Suggest Modifying Capital Requirements for REP Certification Due to Higher Price Cap, Seek Guidance on Other Retail Market Impacts

June 26, 2013: Shale Boom Leads to Electrical Demand

June 26, 2013: Electricity Prices Soar in West Texas as Shale Drilling Expands

June 26, 2013: Preparing for the PUCT Workshop on Generation Adequacy In preparation for tomorrow’s (6/27/13) PUCT workshop on resource adequacy, a number of parties filed comments on the B+ solution.  These comments include proposed improvements and opposing views. A summary of the comments is included in the latest issue of Texas Electric Watch. If you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the Texas Electric Watch, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

June 25, 2013: ERCOT Files Report on ORDC B+ Economic Equilibrium Planning Reserve Margin Estimates Prepared by the Brattle Group

June 26, 2013: Brattle Report Indicates Operating Reserve Demand Curve in ERCOT Can Achieve Resource Adequacy

June 25, 2013: ERCOT Demand Passes 60 MW for First Time in 2013

June 25, 2013: ERCOT: Megawatt Usage Could Be Near Capacity This Week

June 25, 2013: A Long, Hot Summer for ERCOT, and Customers? ERCOT Supplies Still Aren’t Enough for Peak Demand

June 25, 2013: Forbes Calls a Texas Capacity Market What It Is — “More Regulation”

June 24, 2013: Plans for Coal-Fired Tenaska Power Plant Near Sweetwater are Dead

June 24, 2013: Siemens to Service 230MW Blackhawk Station Power Plant in Texas

June 24, 2013: Texas Grid Operator Weighed Down by Peak Electricity Demand, EIA says

June 24, 2013: Electric Supply Additions are Not Keeping Pace with Increased Peak-hour Demand in Texas

June 22, 2013: Perry’s ‘Other’ Decision; Electricity Debate Resumes with Governor’s Call on Appointee

June 21, 2013: Sun Sets on Two More Coal Plant Projects

June 21, 2013: AEP Texas 528-MW Welsh 3 Coal Unit Shut

June 21, 2013: Turning the Switch: El Paso Electric Debuts Generating Unit

Headlines

June 28, 2013: Green Mountain Energy, EnTouch Controls Partner on Offer for Texas Small Businesses

June 27, 2013: TXU Energy Right Time Pricing Plans Give Consumers More Clarity, Options and Incentives

June 28, 2013: TXU Rebrands Dynamic Pricing Products as Right Time Pricing

June 28, 2013: Oncor Replaces Transformers, Poles, Lines

June 27, 2013: FERC: We Never Said ‘All Laptops’ are Subject to Reliability Standards

June 27, 2013: Obama Taps Binz for Electric Grid Chief

June 27, 2013: Greenhouse Gas Cap Could Have Big Impact on Texas Power Sector

June 26, 2013: Luminant CEO: with Carbon Cap “the Devil is in the Details”

June 26, 2013: Austin City Council likely to Seek More Options for Shedding Coal

June 26, 2013: Technology Improves, but ‘Smart’ Cities still a Hard Sell

June 26, 2013: Obama’s Climate Push Spells Trouble for Texas Power Plants

June 26, 2013: Obama’s Climate Plan: A Historic Turning Point or Too Reliant on Oil, Coal, Natural Gas?

June 26, 2013: Bounce Energy: 25% of Customers Enrolled in Critical Peak Rebate Program

June 26, 2013: Under New Law, Texas PUC to Publish List of REPs Offering Discounts to Military Veterans with Severe Burns

June 26, 2013: Texas to Examine Average Pricing Disclosure for Time-Based Rates, Opens Docket

June 26, 2013: Texas Staff, Glacial Energy of Texas, Inc. Reach Settlement on Staff Petition to Revoke REP Certificate

June 26, 2013: Texas Assigns Dockets for Rulemakings on REP Certification, Utility Affiliate Rules, Other Issues

June 25, 2013: Supreme Court Says Governments Sometimes Must Pay Would-be Developers over Denied Permits

June 25, 2013: 5 Takeaways From President Obama’s Climate Speech

June 25, 2013: Texas Republicans Give Obama’s Energy Speech the ‘Coal’ Shoulder

June 25, 2013: Obama Outlines Ambitious Plan to Cut Greenhouse Gases

June 25, 2013: Massive Energy Regulation at Center of Obama Climate Plan

June 25, 2013: Dominion’s Demand Response Services Can Help Businesses Trim Energy Use, Earn Money

June 25, 2013: TXU Energy Launches First Time-Based Plans for Texas’ Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

June 25, 2013: Texas Coalition for Affordable Power Announces New Members

June 24, 2013: Obama Climate Strategy Represents Piecemeal Approach

June 24, 2013: Obama’s Climate Change Plan Tackles Power Plants — not Refineries

June 24, 2013: American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) Statement on President Obama’s Forthcoming Climate Change Speech

June 24, 2013: Governors Across U.S. Voice Opposition to EPA Rules that Would Shutter Coal-Fired Power Plants

June 24, 2013: Obama Said to Solicit States on Cutting Carbon Emissions

June 24, 2013: Disputed Federal Emissions Limits Unlikely to Bring Change

June 24, 2013: Supreme Court to hear Texas-EPA emissions dispute

June 24, 2013: Natural Gas Boom Cools Nuclear Prospects — for Now

June 24, 2013: ENCOA Launches Residential Service in New Texas Service Areas

June 24, 2013: Houston Signs Contract with Electric Supplier

June 24, 2013: Texas Chair Nelson’s Message to Retail Market Bad Actors: “Go Somewhere Else”; Anderson Reminds That Violations of PURA May Be Criminal (Not Civil)

June 24, 2013: Constellation Promoting Critical Peak Rebate Program

June 24, 2013: Capacity Markets, The Reality: Paying for Resources That Don’t Respond When Needed

June 21, 2013: Texas Signs Combined Heat and Power Technology Policy

June 21, 2013: Obama to Take Sweeping Action on Climate

June 22, 2013: Smitherman to Announce Run For Attorney General

Renewable Power

June 27, 2013: Austin Approves Three Wind Energy Contracts

June 27, 2013: Cenovus Focusing on Green Products

June 27, 2013: Nexolon Solar Facility To Start First Hiring Wave In September

June 27, 2013: Renewable Energy Growth Is Rising Around The World, IEA Says

June 27, 2013: Wind Energy Poised to Help Deliver on National Climate Commitment

June 27, 2013: Wells Fargo to Invest in Solar Power

June 26, 2013: Clean Energy to Run Past Nuclear, Gas by 2016: IEA

June 26, 2013: Electric Car Industry Reps Cheered by Market Growth

June 26, 2013: Protecting Wind Turbines in Extreme Temperatures

June 26, 2013: Renewable Energy Production is Rising Fast but Facing Struggles; Power Sector Remains Dirty

June 26, 2013: Goal Zero Releases New Portable Yeti Solar Generators

June 26, 2013: Another Day, Another $1 Billion For Distributed Solar

June 26, 2013: Texas A&M to Announce Solar Energy Deal

June 25, 2013: Skyonic Raises $128 Million for Carbon-capture Plant

June 25, 2013: Do Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy Have to Be Enemies?

June 24, 2013: Renewable Energy Standards Survive Lobby’s Anti-Mandate Blitz

June 24, 2013: The Renewable Energy Rollback that Wasn’t

June 24, 2013: Wind Tax Credits a No-cost Way to Avoid Greenhouse Gas Emissions

June 24, 2013: Houston, Palo Alto Make Big Renewable Energy Buys

June 24, 2013: Houston to Become the Capital of Renewable Energy in the United States?

June 24, 2013: Texas A&M’s Center For Solar Energy Sets High Goals

June 23, 2013: After Slow Rise, Solar Brighter

Other News:

June 26, 2013: Online Shopping Portal CurrentChoice.com Expands to Texas

June 25, 2013: Is Your Smart Meter Spying On You?

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For the Week of  6/14/13 — 6/21/13

Texas Headlines

Generation Adequacy

June 20, 2013: PUCT Staff Sets Agenda for June 27 Generation Adequacy Workshop

June 20, 2013: The 2012 State of the Market Report Finds Prices Too Low In ERCOT Potomac Economics, which serves as the Independent Market Monitor in ERCOT, just posted the 2012 State of the Market Report for the ERCOT region, dated June 2013.  Its key findings include the following: –  –The ERCOT wholesale market performed competitively in 2012; –  –The ERCOT-wide, load-weighted average, real-time energy price was $28.33/MWh in 2012 – a 47% decrease from the 2011 price of $53.23/MWh. And more………….Please click here for more findings on this report.

June 21, 2013: Capacity Markets: Efficient As Buying a 40-Year Clunker

June 19, 2013: LS Power, NRG Add New Generation in Time to Meet Texas Power Use

June 19, 2013: ROY KENT: ERCOT, thankfully, Is Predicting a Cooler Summer

June 19, 2013: Will Summer Blackouts Doom The Texas Boom?

June 19, 2013: ERCOT filed the Value of Lost Load (VOLL) Study with PUCT On 6/18/13, ERCOT filed the Value of Lost Load (VOLL) study, as developed by London Economics (LEI).  It includes a review of studies from other areas and macroeconomic analysis of the value of outages in the ERCOT region.  The third part of the study (i.e., customer survey), which LEI deems necessary to achieve the requested result, could proceed with the Commission’s approval, after the 6/27/13 workshop.  Without the survey, states LEI, a single VOLL estimate cannot be provided.  At the 6/6/13 open meeting, ERCOT staff said that the survey could be completed by the end of this summer, although at a recent stakeholder meeting they mentioned that the initial survey methodology had to be revised.

June 19, 2013: ERCOT Submits the Value of Lost Load Report

June 17, 2013: FERC Staff to Convene Technical Conference on Centralized Capacity Markets in RTOs/ISOs on September 25, 2013

June 18, 2013: FERC Technical Conference on Capacity Markets: Relevance for Texas?

June 18, 2013: Capacity Markets Harming Retail Choice? New England States Seeking to Buy Large Hydro due to Frustration With Wholesale Market

June 18, 2013: Power From New England to Texas Drops on Below-Forecast Demand

June 14, 2013: NRG Seeks Capacity Market for Texas

Headliners

June 21, 2013: Texas Dismisses Petition for Declaratory Order on Use of CenterPoint Brand by TDU, Broker

June 21, 2013: TXU Launching Critical Peak Rebate Program

June 20, 2013: FERC Okays Entergy Grid Transfer to ITC Holdings

June 20, 2013: Five Texas Utility Workers Suffer Serious Burns

June 20, 2013: Top Republican: Obama’s Climate Change Plan ‘Absolutely Crazy’

June 20, 2013: Texas PUCT Chair Nelson Says Commission Won’t Grant REP Certificates to Principals Violating Deceptive Trade or Consumer Protection Laws or Engaging in Fraud

June 20, 2013: Reliant to Launch Product with Southwest Rapid Rewards, Also Launches United MileagePlus Plan

June 19, 2013: Obama Readying Emissions Limits on Power Plants

June 19, 2013: Obama to Outline Climate-Change Steps in Weeks

June 18, 2013: Lubbock Power &Light Staff Push Smart Meters after June 5 Storm Outage

June 19, 2013: U.S. Adds Natgas, Coal Power Generating Capacity in May -FERC

June 19, 2013: EPA to Curb Power Plant Water Toxins

June 19, 2013: Texas Governor Rick Perry Signs New Energy Efficient CHP Policy

June 19, 2013: Texas Tackles Key Regulatory Barriers To Cogeneration

June 18, 2013: Price to Pollute Hits Record High in Texas

June 18, 2013: Governor Perry Signs Water Bills, Vetoes Reform for Oil and Gas Regulators

June 17, 2013: Perry Vetoes ‘Resign to Run’ Bill for Railroad Commissioners

June 18, 2013: TXU Energy Highlights Common Mistakes in Small and Medium-Sized Business Power Purchasing

June 17, 2013: Lights Out: House Plan would Protect Nation’s Electricity from Solar Flare, Nuclear Bomb

June 14, 2013: 14 Ways to Slim your Power Bill this Summer

June 12, 2013: TXU Energy Highlights Lesser-Known Opportunities to Save Electricity and Money

June 18, 2013: County Approves Agreement with Oncor for Repairs to County Roadways Damaged by Substation Construction

June 17, 2013: Fitch Publishes Updated Criteria for Rating Global Thermal Power Projects

June 17, 2013: Fitch: U.S. Public Power Debt Service Coverage Declining

June 16, 2013: How Fracking Killed Nuclear Power

June 15, 2013: Wind Contracts May Push Austin Energy to 35% Renewable Energy Goal

June 15, 2013: RRC Regulator Charts His Political Future, With Eyes to the Right

June 14, 2013: EPA Confirmation Delay Raises Questions About U.S. Carbon Rules

June 13, 2013: FERC Allows More Time on Defining Bulk Electric Systems

Renewable Power

June 20, 2013: Austin City Council Approves Contracts Totalling $1.4 Billion for Wind Energy

June 20, 2013: Houston to Buy Half its Power from Renewable Sources

June 19, 2013: Behind Closed Doors, Utilities like CPS Energy Grapple With New Strategies for Renewable

June 19, 2013: Tesla Recalls Some Model S Cars for Manufacturing Flaw

June 19, 2013: First Solar Raises $448.36 Million in Public Offering of Common Stock

June 18, 2013: ETX Solar Car Team Needs Help Making Their Race

June 18, 2013: First Solar Announces Closing of Common Stock Offering

June 18, 2013: Apartments Often Use Less Energy than Other Homes

June 18, 2013: NRG Vehicle Uses Solar Power to Provide Disaster Relief

June 18, 2013: Stop Hyperventilating, say Energy-efficiency Researchers

June 18, 2013: Google Banks on Airborne Wind Turbine Device to Help Address Future World Energy Needs

June 18, 2013: Energy Secretary Pledges to Keep Momentum Behind Solar Power

June 17, 2013: Energy Chief Praises Solar-powered Plane

June 18, 2013: Brownsville Runway Extension Could Affect Wind Farm Plans

June 17, 2013: Solar-Powered Splash Park Soaks Local Kids Thanks To Reliant

June 17, 2013: ScrapSafe Processes Obsolete Electric Meters Responsibly

June 18, 2013: Solar Power Surges Once Again

June 17, 2013:  Is Solar Thermal the Holy Grail?

June 17, 2013: Utility Solar Is Dead; Long Live Distributed Generation

June 17, 2013: U.S. States, Greens Delay Lawsuit, Await Obama Climate Plan

June 17, 2013: Natural Gas Grid Is Key Enabler For U.S. Energy Security, Says DoD Study

June 13, 2013: ‘Watt’ Does it Take to Build a Solar Airplane?

June 17, 2013: After a Slow Rise, Solar Starts to Shine

June 16, 2013: Siemens Pulls Plug on Last Solar Energy Business

June 16, 2013: Green Start-Ups Turn to Crowdfunding

June 14, 2013: One Good Option for Avoiding Solar Trade War

June 14, 2013: Gas and Renewables are Complementary Generation Fuels, For Now

June 14, 2013: Building the Business Case for Energy Storage

June 13, 2013: Energy Storage and Renewables Seen as Disruptive Technologies

June 13, 2013: Former AEP CEO Outlines How Distributed Generation is Changing Utility Business Model

June 12, 2013: Lots of Natural Gas for Cars, Just Nowhere to Pump It

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For the Week of  6/7/13 — 6/14/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions:

June 11, 2013: Here Are a Couple of Common-Sense Pieces of Legislation the Texas Electricity Lobby Killed

Energy Future Holdings

June 12, 2013: Azima DLI Collaborates with Luminant to Wirelessly Monitor Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant

June 10, 2013: Azima DLI Announces Teaming Agreement with Luminant to Wirelessly Monitor Health of Critical Plant Machinery for its Nuclear Plants

Generation Adequacy

June 13, 2013: Luminant Plants Fired Up for Texas Summer

June 13, 2013:  NRG Admitted in an Op-ed Deregulation Is a Colossal Failure

June 12, 2013: Oncor Asks to Interpret Definition of Wholesale Storage Load

June 12, 2013: Observers Differ on Reasons for ERCOT Forward Volatility

June 12, 2013: Gas’ Role in Texas Generation Mix to Grow Despite Coal Price Advantage

June 12, 2013: Coal’s Share of ERCOT Market Makes Gains in May

June 12, 2013: Texas Gas, Wind Coordination Key to Reliable, Low-carbon Power, Study says

June 12, 2013: In Texas Electrical Grid, Natural Gas and Renewables Complement Each other

June 12, 2013: Natural Gas and Renewables Key to Texas’ Electricity Future

June 12, 2013: Feds: Texans at Greatest Risk for Summer Power Problems

June 12, 2013: Opposite View to NRG’s June 11 Op-ed

June 11, 2013: NRG to Restart Power Plant to Meet Summer Demand for Electricity

June 11, 2013: Time for Texas to Add to State’s Electric Grid

June 11, 2013: Study: Natural Gas, Renewables Work Together in Texas Electricity Market

June 10, 2013: Report: ERCOT Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting 6/6/13 At its 6/6/13 meeting, ERCOT Technical Advisory Committee voted to raise the planning reserve margin to 16.1%, rejecting a compromise proposal for 15%.  The TAC members also rejected the latest revision request to address price reversals.  To follow these issues and learn about the reasons behind these decisions, subscribe to the ERCOT Monitor Reports.  If you are interested in purchasing this EMR issue, please click here. If you are interested in subscribing the ERCOT Monitor Reports, please click here or call Competitive Assets at 512-581-0151

June 7, 2013: ERCOT Set to Unveil Key Value of Lost Load Study in Next Few Weeks

Headliners

June 13, 2013: Panelists say It’s Smart to Use New Electric Meters

June 13, 2013: Fitch Releases 2013 U.S. Public Power Peer Study and Comparative Analysis Tool

June 13, 2013: GE And Trilliant Deliver Industry-Leading Smart Grid Solutions As A Service For Public Power Utilities

June 12, 2013: Night, Weekend Electricity Plans Gaining a Following

June 11, 2013: With New Clean Energy Test Lab, Pecan Street is ‘Going to Innovate

June 11, 2013: Pike Powers Lab in Austin, an Arm of Pecan Street Inc.,Opens

June 11, 2013: Smart Meter Critics are Few, but Vocal, Execs say

June 11, 2013: American Electric Power Awarded EEI’s 2013 Edison Award

June 11, 2013: Six Flags Engages Veteran Sponsorship Consultant to Land Retail Energy Deal

June 10, 2013: Railroad Commission Is Vital To Texas’ Ongoing Economic Success

June 10, 2013: Dynegy Responds To Illinois Pollution Control Board Decision

June 10, 2013: Wide Moat and FERC Policy Should Continue to Drive Growth for ITC

June 7, 2013: NRG Unit Plans $400 Million IPO to Own, Operate Power Assets

June 7, 2013: Five Security Reasons to Worry About the Power Grid

June 7, 2013: Ameren Committed to Completing AER/Dynegy Transaction

June 7, 2013: Alleviating the Effects of Large Scale Events on the U.S. Electric System

Renewable Power

June 13, 2013: In Energy Giant Texas, Natural Gas Won’t Push Out Renewables

June 12, 2013: Shale Gale is Blowing Business to Wind Power in Texas

June 12, 2013: The Coming US Distributed Solar Boom

June 12, 2013: Smart Grid Reality Check, Part I: The Future Of Distributed Generation

June 12, 2013: Why It’s Cheaper to Charge an Electric Car than Fill Up With Gas

June 12, 2013: Cheaper Solar Panels Fuel Rise in Renewable Energy

June 12, 2013: U.S. Solar Installations Jump in First Quarter

June 11, 2013: The Coming Solar Electricity Transformation

June 11, 2013: 2013 Q1 Update: U.S. Solar Industry Keeps Chugging Along

June 11, 2013: How Texas Drivers Can Save $2.28 a Gallon for Fuel

June 10, 2013: GE Power Conversion Helps To Build The Future Of Wind Power Efficiency

June 10, 2013: Space Solar Power: Key to a Livable Planet Earth

June 9, 2013: UN Climate Goals Possible With Efficiency Measures, IEA Says

June 9, 2012: IEA: Energy CO2 Emissions Hit Record High in 2012

June 9, 2013: Chemical Companies Seek to Limit Federal Green Building

June 7, 2013: “Making the Sky Blue”

June 7, 2013: U.S. Will Top Clean Energy Deals Led by Solar, CohnReznick Says

June 7, 2013: What Went Wrong In The Solar Industry – And What Is Going Right?

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For the Week of  5/31/13 — 6/7/13

Texas Headlines

Other Headliners

June 6, 2013: Texas PUC Approves Construction of New Transmission Line

June 6, 2013: PUCT’s Anderson Warns Texas REPs of “Death Penalty” for Misuse of Switch-holds

June 6, 2013: Texas Commission Considers Generic Rulemaking on Use of Utility Name By Affiliates

June 6, 2013: ‘Top Five Storm Damage Event’ Leaves Thousands Without Power on South Plains

June 6, 2013: Thousands Lose Electricity During Texas Storms

June 6, 2013: ERCOT to Hold Info Session on Collecting Load Response Data from Retail Electric Providers

June 6, 2013:  MISO Expands Reliability Services in its Southern Footprint

June 6, 2013: West Texas Site Opens for Low-level Nuke Waste, Takes Material from Federal Lab in New Mexico

June 6, 2013: Electricity Reliability Report released; Texas and California Raise Concerns for Summer

June 6, 2013: What is the Smart Grid, Really?

June 6, 2013: New Technologies and Approaches Will Change the Electric Grid Forever

June 6, 2013: NRG Energy Surpasses Post-Merger Goals for Balance Sheet Efficiencies

June 6, 2013: Guarding Against Summer Outages

June 6, 2013: Buyer of Ameren Plants to Proceed with Sale despite Adverse Ruling

June 5, 2013: Don’t Let TXU Scare Tactic Stop You from Shopping for Electricity Rates

June 5, 2013: Power Outages Reappear in Western Midland

June 5, 2013: 100,000 Smart Meters Safely Installed in Southeast Texas

June 5, 2013: Buffett’s Berkshire Holds Off on New Iowa Nuclear Plants

June 5, 2013: LBJ Tour Includes Co-op Site

June 5, 2013: Reliant Now Offering Generators to Residential Customers

June 5, 2013: Ambit Energy’s Chambless Compares Current Retail Energy Climate to Telecomm Experience, Expects Similar Consolidation

June 5, 2013: Texas Likely to Hear Oral Argument on Use of CenterPoint Brand by Utility, Affiliate Broker

June 4, 2013: TXU Energy Launches Free Weekends Plan

June 4, 2013: Champion Energy Services Partnering With Lowfoot on Customer AMI Data, Could Facilitate Future Offering of Peak-Time Rebate Product

June 4, 2013: 4,000 Austin Businesses, Churches Facing Electric Billing Errors

June 4, 2013: FERC Staff: Coal Generation Could See Comeback on Pricier Natural Gas This Summer

June 4, 2013: Research Boosts the Power of Coal

June 4, 2013: Legislature Strengthens CHP Disaster Preparedness Policy in Texas

June 4, 2013: Fitch Affirms Dynegy Midwest Generation and Dynegy Power; Withdraws Ratings

June 4, 2013: Fitch Rates NextEra Energy Capital Holdings’ Debentures ‘A-‘

June 3, 2013: Help Rice Prevent Brownouts this Summer

June 3, 2013: MISO Expands Reliability Services for South

June 3, 2013: Hot, Windless Weather Ushers in Dallas-Fort Worth’s First Ozone Action Day of 2013

June 3, 2013: Oncor Responded to both Oklahoma Tornado Disasters

June 3, 2013: Sharyland Files Retail Delivery Rates for Transition to Competition, Includes Rider for Transition Expenses

June 3, 2013: When Will the Texas Drought End?

June 1, 2013: Houston Engineering Students Create Shoes that Can Generate Electricity

June 1, 2013: Bet on Blackouts when Investing in US Energy

Renewable Power

June 6, 2013: New Austin Lab Aims to Become Leader for Clean-energy Testing

June 6, 2013: Utility Green Power Programs Are Boasting Success

June 6, 2013: Solar Power Industry Faces Quality Control Issues

June 6, 2013: Innovative Designs Keep Power Turbines Spinning

June 6, 2013: The Numbers Don’t Lie: U.S. Utilities Continue To Embrace Wind Energy

June 6, 2013: Cheaper Tesla Model May be Here by 2016

June 6, 2013: In Texas, a Mixed Legislative Session for Green Cars

June 6, 2013: Will MLP Campaign Put Wind Tax Credit at Risk?

June 5, 2013: Musk Says Tesla Gross Margin to Approach Porsche’s

June 5, 2013: U.S. to Lease Federal Waters for Commercial Offshore Wind Energy

June 5, 2013: Toyota Recalls 242,000 Prius, Lexus Hybrid Cars

June 4, 2013: Tesla’s Challenge to Dealerships Sputters in Texas

June 4, 2013: Republicans Attack Landmark Offshore Wind Power Plan

June 4, 2013: As Natural Gas Displaces Coal, Carbon Emissions Fall

June 4, 2013: First Floating Wind Turbine In The U.S. Deploys In Maine

June 4, 2013: New Process May Put Cleaner Face on Dirty Coal

June 4, 2013: Researchers Explore Harvesting Electricity Directly from Plants

June 3, 2013: Study Looks at Expensive New Ways for Obama Administration to Push Electric Car Sales

June 3, 2013: Distributed Solar is Here to Stay, Soon without Subsidies

June 3, 2013: Renewables Champion Resigns from US Energy Regulator

June 3, 2013: Climate Change Trend Likely to Thwart Biofuel Goals, Study says

June 3, 2013: Texas Renewable Electric Generation Up 7% in 2012

June 2, 2013: U.S. Energy Department Partners for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Infrastructure

June 2, 2013: Clean Energy is a Bargain for Consumers

June 1, 2013: Case Pitting minors, State environmental Agency on Greenhouse Gases Moves Ahead Slowly

May 30, 2013: Energy Innovation Centers Seek Ways to Power the Future

May 30, 2013: Electric Car Owners Face Confusion at the Charging Station

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For the Week of  5/24/13 — 5/31/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions

May 28, 2013: Texas Governor Lets PUCT Reauthorization Bill Become Law

May 29, 2013: Texas Legislature Passes Energy Policy to Support Cogeneration

May 29, 2013: Spanish Heirs Win Access to Energy Wealth in Texas Legislature

May 29, 2013: LCRA Emerges Winner in Legislative Action on Environmental Matters

May 26, 2013: Electricity Pact Ends State Budget Dispute

May 26, 2013: Texas Legislature Passes Commercial And Industrial PACE Bill

May 26, 2013: Texas Picks Up the Clean Energy PACE

May 28, 2013: TMRA Uranium Committee Applauds Texas Legislature for Passing Permit Area Authorization Bill

May 28, 2013: Railroad Commission Avoids Shutdown

May 28, 2013: After Bills Die, Electric Vehicle Makers Still Can’t Sell Directly to Texans

May 26, 2013: Under the Dome: Texas Railroad Commission to Survive with New Review

May 26, 2013: Low-income Ratepayers Get Relief

May 24, 2013: System Benefit Fund Deal in the Works: Better than Nothing until it Becomes Nothing

Generation Adequacy

May 30, 2013: ERCOT 6-month Congestion Rights Value Climbs 12.5%

May 29, 2013: ERCOT Adds More Gas, Wind Projects for Interconnection; Oncor Files for 345-kV Project

May 29, 2013: NERC Releases Reports to Identify Reliability Performance, Trends

May 29, 2013: Texas Grid Ready for Summer Heat, ERCOT says

May 29, 2013: Texas Power Plant Cuts Costs, Reduces Water Treatment Needs

Other Headliners

May 30, 2013: NRG Expects More Layoffs from GenOn Merger

May 30, 2013: Fitch affirms Bryan Texas Utilities, TX Rural Electric System Revs at ‘A+’; Outlook Stable

May 30, 2013: Constellation Energy Partners Refinances Credit Facility and Expands Borrowing Capacity

May 30, 2013: Fitch Rates San Antonio City Public Service’s (TX) Elec and Gas System Junior Lien Revs ‘AA+’

May 30, 2013: Texas will Get Some of Tesla’s Quick-charge Stations

May 28, 2013: Fitch Upgrades Calpine’s IDR to ‘B+’; Outlook Stable

May 28, 2013: Smart Grid May Plug Leaky, Wasteful Energy Systems

May 29, 2013: Texas Leads The Nation In Carbon Emissions. It’s Time To Mess with Texas

May 24, 2013: Coal Is Making a Comeback, and Nobody Burns it Like Texas

May 28, 2013: Smart Grid May Plug Leaky, Wasteful Energy Systems

May 26, 2013: Many Missteps Later, City Council is on the Right Path to Improve Austin Energy

May 24. 2013: Transmission Project Gets OK from Utilities Commission

May 24, 2013: NextEra Energy Delivered Strong Performance in 2012 and is Positioned Well for Future Growth, President and CEO Tells Shareholders

May 24, 2013: Energy Policy is National Security Issue

Renewable Power

May 30, 2013: Obama’s Electric Vehicle Loans Program is a Failure

May 30, 2013: Geothermal Gets a Charge from Solar Thermal

May 29, 2013: Electric utilities Eyeing Distributed Solar Power

May 29, 2013: Burn the Forests, Save the Planet?

May 29, 2013: Crappy Solar Panels Threaten Industry Growth

May 29, 2013: First Solar And FuelCell Energy Will Remain Vital In Clean Energy

May 29, 2013: Wind Energy Industry: 2013 Legislature Created Mixed Results

May 29, 2013: USA: Wind Forecasting Revenue Will Surpass USD 300 Million by 2020, Says Navigant Research

May 27, 2013: WindTracer Uses Lasers to Predict Wind Direction

May 28, 2013: Google Makes Big Bet on ‘Kite Power’

May 27, 2013: Despite growth, Texas Lags Far Behind on Solar Energy

May 27, 2013: Merrill Matthews: It’s Time We Learn what Green Energy Costs States and Cities

Other Texas News

May 29, 2013: Exelon Names New CEO at Constellation

=====================================================================================================

For the Week of  5/24/13 — 5/31/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions

May 28, 2013: Texas Governor Lets PUCT Reauthorization Bill Become Law

May 29, 2013: Texas Legislature Passes Energy Policy to Support Cogeneration

May 29, 2013: Spanish Heirs Win Access to Energy Wealth in Texas Legislature

May 29, 2013: LCRA Emerges Winner in Legislative Action on Environmental Matters

May 26, 2013: Electricity Pact Ends State Budget Dispute

May 26, 2013: Texas Legislature Passes Commercial And Industrial PACE Bill

May 26, 2013: Texas Picks Up the Clean Energy PACE

May 28, 2013: TMRA Uranium Committee Applauds Texas Legislature for Passing Permit Area Authorization Bill

May 28, 2013: Railroad Commission Avoids Shutdown

May 28, 2013: After Bills Die, Electric Vehicle Makers Still Can’t Sell Directly to Texans

May 26, 2013: Under the Dome: Texas Railroad Commission to Survive with New Review

May 26, 2013: Low-income Ratepayers Get Relief

May 24, 2013: System Benefit Fund Deal in the Works: Better than Nothing until it Becomes Nothing

Generation Adequacy

May 30, 2013: ERCOT 6-month Congestion Rights Value Climbs 12.5%

May 29, 2013: ERCOT Adds More Gas, Wind Projects for Interconnection; Oncor Files for 345-kV Project

May 29, 2013: NERC Releases Reports to Identify Reliability Performance, Trends

May 29, 2013: Texas Grid Ready for Summer Heat, ERCOT says

May 29, 2013: Texas Power Plant Cuts Costs, Reduces Water Treatment Needs

Other Headliners

May 30, 2013: NRG Expects More Layoffs from GenOn Merger

May 30, 2013: Fitch affirms Bryan Texas Utilities, TX Rural Electric System Revs at ‘A+’; Outlook Stable

May 30, 2013: Constellation Energy Partners Refinances Credit Facility and Expands Borrowing Capacity

May 30, 2013: Fitch Rates San Antonio City Public Service’s (TX) Elec and Gas System Junior Lien Revs ‘AA+’

May 30, 2013: Texas will Get Some of Tesla’s Quick-charge Stations

May 28, 2013: Fitch Upgrades Calpine’s IDR to ‘B+’; Outlook Stable

May 28, 2013: Smart Grid May Plug Leaky, Wasteful Energy Systems

May 29, 2013: Texas Leads The Nation In Carbon Emissions. It’s Time To Mess with Texas

May 24, 2013: Coal Is Making a Comeback, and Nobody Burns it Like Texas

May 28, 2013: Smart Grid May Plug Leaky, Wasteful Energy Systems

May 26, 2013: Many Missteps Later, City Council is on the Right Path to Improve Austin Energy

May 24. 2013: Transmission Project Gets OK from Utilities Commission

May 24, 2013: NextEra Energy Delivered Strong Performance in 2012 and is Positioned Well for Future Growth, President and CEO Tells Shareholders

May 24, 2013: Energy Policy is National Security Issue

Renewable Power

May 30, 2013: Obama’s Electric Vehicle Loans Program is a Failure

May 30, 2013: Geothermal Gets a Charge from Solar Thermal

May 29, 2013: Electric utilities Eyeing Distributed Solar Power

May 29, 2013: Burn the Forests, Save the Planet?

May 29, 2013: Crappy Solar Panels Threaten Industry Growth

May 29, 2013: First Solar And FuelCell Energy Will Remain Vital In Clean Energy

May 29, 2013: Wind Energy Industry: 2013 Legislature Created Mixed Results

May 29, 2013: USA: Wind Forecasting Revenue Will Surpass USD 300 Million by 2020, Says Navigant Research

May 27, 2013: WindTracer Uses Lasers to Predict Wind Direction

May 28, 2013: Google Makes Big Bet on ‘Kite Power’

May 27, 2013: Despite growth, Texas Lags Far Behind on Solar Energy

May 27, 2013: Merrill Matthews: It’s Time We Learn what Green Energy Costs States and Cities

Other Texas News

May 29, 2013: Exelon Names New CEO at Constellation

=====================================================================================================

For the Week of  5/17/13 — 5/24/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions

May 23, 2013: Will Texas Lawmakers Save the Railroad Commission?

May 22, 2013: Bill Allowing Hotter Waste in Texas Passes House

May 21, 2013: Senate Passes Bill to Refund $630M of Electric-bill Fees

May 21, 2013: Wind Coalition: Keep Alive Chapter 313 For Texas Energy

May 21, 2013: Radioactive Waste Dump in West Texas

May 20, 2013: House Wants RR Hopefuls to Quit to Run for Office

May 20, 2013: Snag on Electricity Fee Rebates Could Hang up Budget

May 17, 2013: Texas House OKs Utility-backed Bill affecting Rate Cases

May 16, 2013: Oncor’s “Phantom Tax” Windfall May Become Permanent as Bill Hits Texas House Floor

Generation Adequacy

May 21, 2013: Let’s Democratize Demand Response – Power from the People!

May 20, 2013: Texas Power Grid Poised to Be Put to the Test Again

May 17, 2013: ERCOT staff today filed an Impact Analysis (IA) the proposed resource adequacy solution for the Operating Reserve Demand Curve (ORDC)/B+, as filed earlier this spring in PUC Project No. 40000 (related to resource adequacy). The cost of implementation is expected at $100k-$200k and the time is estimated at 6-8 months.

May 17, 2013: ERCOT Provides Cost Estimate for Implementing B+ Operating Reserve Demand Curve Proposal

May 17, 2013: NERC Worried about Texas Reliability this Summer; Overall Bulk System Improving

May 16, 2013: FERC Staff: With Gas Prices Up, Coal Expected to be Used More to Generate Power

Other Headliners

May 24. 2013: Tax Break Weekend in Texas for Energy Star Items

May 23, 2013: Oncor Investigates Cause of Power Outage in East Odessa

May 23, 2013: Higher Emissions Linked to Coal-fired Power Plants in Texas and Other States

May 22, 2013: Grid Reliability Bill Heads to US Senate in Time for Summer Heat

May 22, 2013: Congress Looks to Force Extra Protection on Utilities to Combat Cyberattacks

May 21, 2013: Council Puts Plan for Austin Energy Board on Hold

May 21, 2013: Texas PUC Approves ETT Application to Build Laredo-to-Rio Grande Valley Transmission Line

May 21, 2013: Oncor Reports Roughly 11,000 Without Power in Tyler Area

May 21, 2013:  FERC Proposes to Approve Revisions to Transmission Planning Reliability Standard

May 21, 2013: Xcel Energy Inc. Board Increases Common Dividend 3.7 Percent, Declares Dividend on Common Stock and Announces Management Changes

May 21, 2013: House Democrats’ Report says Power Grid is Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

May 20, 2013: AES Brings Patented Storage Operating System (SOS™) to MarketMay 21, 2013: Texas PUC Disburses $212,000 to Customers of REP Which Improperly Charged Enrollment Fees

May 20, 2013: U.S. Nuclear Output Rises To 10-Week High as Reactors Start

May 20, 2013: U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plants: Update or Close?

May 20, 2013: US Coal-fired Generation Expected up This Year: Bernstein Research

May 20, 2013: Department of Energy Approves Gas Exports From Texas

May 19, 2013: As Towns Says No, Signs of Rising Resistance to Smart Meters

May 17, 2013: Fitch Affirms Golden Spread Electric Coop Bonds at ‘A’; Outlook Stable

May 16, 2013: Emissions Benchmarking Report Illustrates Calpine’s Environmental Leadership

May 17, 2013: Texas Settlement Would Fine Company $1.5 Million for Providing Retail Electric Service Without REP Certificate

Renewable Power

May 23, 2013: Companies Share Energy Efficiency Secrets

May 23, 2013: CBO Releases Important Carbon Tax Report

May 22, 2013: ERCOT: Renewable Energy Capacity Up 16 Percent in Texas

May 22, 2013: Renewable Energy Capacity Up 16% in Texas from 2011

May 22, 2013: Solar Plane Lands in Texas, Completes 2nd Leg of Trip Intended to Boost Clean Energy Interest

May 22, 2013: Solar-powered Plane Expected at DFW Airport Early Thursday

May 22, 2013: Solar Energy Industries Association and Electricity Storage Association Announce New Partnership

May 22, 2013: Top U.S. Utilities Are Cleaning Up Their Acts: Plant Emissions Drop

May 22, 2013: Google Buys Airborne Wind Power Turbine Company Makani Power

May 22, 2013: Majority Thinks Global Warming, Clean Energy Should be Priorities

May 21, 2013: Using Solar Power to Pump Oil

May 21, 2013: To Spark Buyers for Electric Cars, Drop the Price to Nearly $0

May 21, 2013: Tesla Repaying Loan for ‘Losers’ Gives Obama Green Win

May 20, 2013: Wind and the Myth of Widespread Negative Pricing

May 20, 2013: Maximizing the Wind: With Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage

May 18, 2013: Flower Mound Man’s Fight over Solar Panels Prompts Review of Regulations

May 18, 2013: Renewable Power Generation Grew 7 Percent in Texas Last Year

May 16, 2013: Wind, Solar Generation Continues To Grow In Texas

May 17, 2013: Washington Is Outdoing California and Texas in Renewable Energy

May 16, 2013: Solar Shines as Fastest Growing Energy Source for ERCOT

May 17, 2013: New Law Lays Out Ground Rules for Wind Power

May 17, 2013: New Report Outlines US Military’s Solar Powered Might

Other Texas News

May 22, 2013: Luminant Generates Environmental Awareness Among Freestone County Youth

May 22, 2013: Start-Up Texas REP Adds Veterans from True Electric to Management

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For the Week of  5/10/13 — 5/17/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions

May 16, 2013: Texas Coalition for Affordable Power: Senate Bill 1364 Increases Unfair Tax Collections by Electric Utilities

May 16, 2013: Wind Industry Fears Dewhurst Move to Slash Tax Breaks

May 15, 2013: Railroad Commission Reform Stalled

May 14, 2013: No Reforms for Railroad Commission This Session

May 13, 2013: What’s Happening This Week at the Texas Legislature

May 13, 2013: Solar Bill Stalls in Texas Senate after Power Industry Opposition

May 12, 2013: Voters Approve City Gas Utility

Energy Future Holdings

May 16, 2013:Oncor Electric Delivery says Expansion is Limited by Parent Company’s Debt

May 16, 2013: Energy Future’s Woes Stunt Oncor’s Texas Power Growth Ambitions

Generation Adequacy

May 17, 2013: Infrastructure Constraints Loom as Texas Grows

May 16, 2013: N. America Has Enough Summer Power, but Texas Problem Possible

May 15, 2013: NERC Raises Concerns over Falling Power Reserve Margins in Texas

May 12, 2013: ERCOT Will Raise Texas’ System Wide Offer Cap to $9,000 in 2015

May 10, 2013: Don’t Be Fooled By Recent Lows: The Texas Energy Crunch Is Still A Big Issue

Other Headliners

May 17, 2013: Texas Consumer Advocates Raise Concern Strawman POLR Rule Could Raise Rates

May 16, 2013: Texas PUC approves ETT application to build Laredo-to-Rio Grande Valley transmission line

May 17, 2013: Just Energy Maintains High Customer Growth Levels; Reports Lower Margins

May 17, 2013: Bounce Energy Waiving Monthly Customer Charge for Customers Selecting A/C Protection Plan

May 16, 2013: Groups Credit Natural Gas, Renewables with Steep Emissions Cuts in Power Sector

May 15, 2013: Holly Power Plant Taking Longer to Dismantle than Expected

May 15, 2013: Will Water, Wind, and Solar Power Save Our Electric Grid?

May 15, 2013: Xcel Energy Seeks Increase In Fuel Cost Collections in Texas

May 15, 2013: Dynegy Launches Senior Notes Offering

May 15, 2013: American Electric Power Makes a Move: Up 1.5%

May 16, 2013: Glacial Energy Partners with Hotels to Market Energy Supply to Guests, Free Night Offered

May 16, 2013: Retail Providers Honored by Houston Better Business Bureau

May 15, 2013: House Bill Aims to Protect Power Utilities, Keep Lights On

May 15, 2013: Seven Years Later, Ambit Energy is Thompson’s Billion-dollar Baby

May 15, 2013: TXU Energy Offering 20% Off Certain Fixed Price Plans, $250 Enrollment Bonus

May 14, 2013: Oncor’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure

May 13, 2013: Energy-related Carbon Dioxide Emissions Drop in 32 States

May 11, 2013: New Austin Energy Proposal doesn’t Weaken Accountability or Public Input

May 10, 2013: Texas Regulators Approve Laredo-Rio Grande Valley Transmission Project

Renewable Power

May 16, 2013: Wind and Gas Giant NextEra Goes Solar, Buys Smart Energy Capital

May 16, 2013: The Endangered Species Act And Wind Power: A Rule, Or More Of A Guideline?

May 16, 2013: Wind Energy’s Shadow: Turbines Drag Down Power Potential

May 15, 2013: Largest Federal Wind Farm to Be Built by Siemens

May 13, 2013: El Paso Electric: Forging ahead in solar

May 13, 2013: Solar Jobs Outnumber Texas Ranchers and US Coal Miners

May 14, 2013: DOE To Recast Landmark 20% Wind Energy Report; Study Looks Back, Ahead

May 14, 2013: Bill Would Let Natural Gas-based Ethanol Qualify as Renewable

May 14, 2013: Wind Farms Get Pass on Eagle Deaths

May 13, 2003: Solar Panels Could Soon Become As Cheap As Paint

May 13, 2013: UpWind to Service Four Wind Projects in Texas and Kansas

May 13, 2013: Insights Into Renewables and the Grid From Congress

May 13, 2003: More About Wind

May 13, 2013: Clock is Ticking, Slowly, on Rules for Coal-fired Plants

May 13, 2013: Batteries could Fuel Solar, Wind Growth

May 13, 2013: Energy Department Launches Public-Private Partnership to Deploy Hydrogen Infrastructure

May 11, 2013: DFW Airport the Next Stop on Lightweight Plane’s Sun-powered Cross-country Flight

May 11, 2013: San Antonio Seeks to Amp Up Use of Tiny Electric Cars

May 10, 2013: US Solar Firms Take on ‘Big Power’

May 10, 2013: Reinventing the Wind Turbine

May 12, 2013: Old Technology Fuels New Energy Boom

Other Texas News

May 16, 2013: Enchanted Rock’s Electranet Seeks Texas REP Certificate

May 14, 2013: Private Equity Firm Among Principals of Start-Up Texas Retail Provider

May 11, 2013: Wholesale Power Marketer Seeks Texas Retail License

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For the Week of  5/3/13 — 5/10/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions

May 8, 2013: Now Austin Can’t Agree What to Call the Texas Railroad Commission

May 7, 2013: Texas Appealing to other States for Radioactive Trash, Looks to Expand Program

May 7, 2013: Bill would End TCEQ Compliance History Program

Generation Adequacy

May 9, 2013: Texas Energy Challenges Could be Solved with Solar

May 8, 2013: Texas Regulators Schedule Workshop on Generation Scarcity Pricing Proposal

May 3, 2013: Operating Reserves Solution in Texas Could Add $70/MWh to Power Prices

Other Headliners

May 9, 2013: Council postpones Austin Energy discussion

May 8, 2013: Texas PUC Staff Recommends Denial of Entergy/ITC Merger Approval

May 9, 2013: Senate OKs PUC Commissioner Two Years after Term Started

May 9, 2013: Black & Veatch Report: Anxiety Levels Rising For Electric Industry Leaders

May 9, 2013: El Paso Electric Announces an Increase in the Quarterly Dividend

May 8, 2013: Opposition Grows to Austin Energy Board Proposal

May 8, 2013: The Texas Senate today unanimously confirmed Gov. Perry’s reappointment of PUCT Commissioner Kenneth Anderson for a term expiring Sept. 1, 2017.

May 8, 2013: Texas Named the Most Attractive State for Businesses

May 8, 2013: TriEagle Energy Could Pay Texas Customers Up to $1/kWh for Reductions Under New Demand Response Program

May 7, 2013: Fitch Rates Xcel Energy’s $450MM Sr. Unsecured Notes ‘BBB+’; Outlook Stable

May 7, 2013: NRG Reports Steady Retail Margins in Texas

May 7, 2013: Texas Draft Order Would Fine QSE $25,000, As Sought by Staff

May 6, 2013: Growth of ‘distributed’ electricity generation could transform utility systems

May 5, 2013: Morrison: The sky Isn’t Falling for Austin Energy

May 5, 2013: Leffingwell, Spelman: Independent Board Would Save Austin Energy

May 3, 2013: EPA Rules to Shut Down More than 280 Coal-fired Units

May 3, 2013: DOE Launches $100 Electric Submeter Challenge

Renewable Power

May 8, 2013: IRS Issues Favorable Guidance on Tax Credits for Wind and other Renewable Electric Generation Developers

May 9, 2013: San Antonio’s CPS Backs Off Solar Net Metering Power Grab

May 9, 2013: The Next Solar Power Boom Is Coming: Analyst

May 9, 2013: Wind Energy Industry Seeks Another Extension of Tax Credit

May 8, 2013: Beinecke: Wind Power Makes Money, Creates Jobs

May 8, 2013: Wind Power’s Benefits Keep Getting Better

May 8, 2013: Xcel Energy and NCAR Power Up Renewable Energy Forecasts

May 8, 2013:  The 2013 US Utility Outlook on Renewables, Smart Grid

May 7, 2013: Wind Power Urged to Compete with Fossil Fuels Head On

May 7, 2013: AWEA: Transmission still a Barrier for Wind Power

May 7, 2013: Solar Installer Sues for U.S. Grant Funds

May 7, 2013:  Renewable Energy Groups in Spat Over Imports

May 6, 2013: Wind Farm Upgrades Will Help Meet ERCOT Interconnection Mandate

May 6, 2013: S&C will upgrade 585 MW wind farm in Texas

May 6, 2013: GE Announces 1 Gigawatt of US Wind Orders following PTC Decision, Launches New Brilliant Wind Turbine

May 6, 2013: Brighter days for First Solar

May 5, 2013: “Best Yet” Battery Design to Stabilise Solar Power for Grid

May 5, 2013: Renewable Energy Group’s Business Model Turning Profits

May 3, 2013: Solar Needs Market Changes To Bring Benefits To ‘Untapped’ Texas

Other Texas News

May 9, 2013: Texas Staff, AEP Energy Inc. (BlueStar) Reach Agreement on REP Naming

May 8, 2013: Texas REP to Pay $75,000 Under Settlement With Staff

May 7, 2013: Tyler Junior College Students Graduate from First Ever Luminant “Power Track” Program

May 7, 2013: Rice Students Put Gears on a Shoe to Power a Cellphone

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For the Week of  4/26/13 — 5/3/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions:

May 2, 2013: Texas Legislature Weighs Change to Power Companies’ ‘Phantom Taxes’

May 2, 2013: Texas Lawmakers Advance Bill to Compensate Homeowners for Solar Power

May 2, 2013: Texas Railroad Commission Sunset Bill Passes Senate

April 27, 2013: With 30 Days Left, Legislators to Pick Up Pace

April 26, 2013: Electricity Law could Affect Customers’ Bottom Line

Energy Future Holdings

May 2, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Reports $569 million First Quarter Loss

May 2, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

May 1, 2013: Energy Future Bonds Jump Most in Two Months as Payment Due

May 2. 2013: TXU Churn Down During First Quarter

Generation Adequacy

May 2, 2013: Energy Experts: Deploying More Solar in Texas Will Create New Jobs, Ensure Grid Reliability

May 2, 2013: Rolling Blackouts Unlikely This Summer, ERCOT Says

May 1, 2013: Exelon Sets Its Sights on Texas

May 1, 2013: ERCOT Forecasts 2014 Reserve Margin Above Target

May 1, 2013: ERCOT Predicting Hotter than Average Summer, Conservation Pleas Likely

May 1, 2013: Texas Power Agency Sees More Need for Conservation this Summer

May 1, 2013: Texas Power Cushion Seen at Lowest Level in a Decade

May 1, 2013: Texas Power Supply Sees Tight but Improving

May 1, 2013: News Release: ERCOT Expects Tight Summer Conditions, Long-term Outlook Shows Improvement

May 1, 2013: ERCOT CEO Responds to NERC: Future Outlook is Improving           On 1/7/13, the NERC CEO Gerry Cauley sent a letter to Trip Doggett, the CEO of ERCOT, relating NERC Board of Trustees’ concerns about the declining reserve margin in ERCOT.  He asked that ERCOT consider additional measures to improve resource adequacy and report to NERC by 4/30/13, on proposed solutions.Consequently, on 4/30/13, Trip Doggett replied to Gerry Cauley in a letter, acknowledging the possibility of a lower reserve margin, and listing the steps ERCOT and the PUCT are working on now to address the potential problem.  He states that the 5/1/13 Capacity, Demand, and Reserves (CDR) Report will show a reserve margin for 2014 higher than the target and also improved future outlook.  In addition, he suggests regular updates every six months and provides a specific and lengthy list of all measures taken in the past two years to increase resource adequacy.

April 30, 2013: ERCOT Issued Advisory after Power Reserves Fell

April 29, 2013: Texas Power Price Surges as Demand Tops Estimates and Supply Drops

Other Headliners

May 2, 2013: AEP Raises Transmission Capacity

May 2, 2013: Weather Heats El Paso Electric Profits

May 2, 2013: Texas QSE Would Pay $35,000 Under Settlement with Texas PUC Staff

May 1, 2013: El Paso Electric Profit Doubles in First Quarter Compared to 2012

May 1, 2013:  Tesla is the Next Apple or Google, Hedge Fund Argues

May 1, 2013: Tesla Stock Still Climbing, Despite Federal Subpoena Asking About Executive Share Trading

April 30, 2013: Selling Excess Electricity Produced by UT’s Power Plant?

May 1, 2013: How Electric Vehicles will Earn Money from the Power Grid

April 30, 2013: Bluebonnet Co-op Warns of Fraudulent Pay Schemes

April 30, 2013: Sharyland to Acquire Transmission Assets from SPS to Facilitate Retail Choice, Ease West Zone Congestion

April 30, 2013: UBS: Retail Trend is Towards More Re-Regulation; Not Further Deregulation

April 30, 2013: Texas to Launch New Power to Choose Website; Will Allow Customer Ratings of REPs

April 29, 2013: City Las Cruces, El Paso Electric Close to Accord

April 30, 2013: Abengoa to Develop Cogeneration Plant in Texas

April 29, 2013: CPS OKs $16.2M in bonuses

April 29, 2013: Texas Staff File Strawman for Changes to POLR Rule

April 26, 2013: Texas Regulators Approve Review of Entergy/ITC Transmission Cost Rider

April 26, 2013: MISO Board Approves New Transmission-Owning Member:East Texas Electric Cooperative

April 26, 2013: American Electric Power Earnings Meet Estimates

April 18, 2013: FERC Proposes to Adopt New Cyber Security Standards

Renewable Power

May 3, 2013: Oil Drilling Technology Leaps, Clean Energy Lags

May 2, 2013: Clean Technology Investors Shift Focus to Drilling

May 1, 2013: Twisting in the Wind: Invenergy Buys GE’s ‘Brilliant’ Turbine for Texas Project

May 1, 2013: Invenergy to Install GE’s First Brilliant Wind Turbine with Integrated Battery Software Applications

May 1, 2013: New Battery Design Could Help Solar and Wind Power the Grid

May 1, 2013: Legislators Fail to Reform Solar Tax Credit

May 1, 2013: 2 Regional Projects at Amarillo Awarded for Environmental Excellence

April 30, 2013: Rooftop Solar Seen Protecting U.S. Power Grid from Attack

April 29, 2013: Google to Utilities: Please Do a Better Job of Offering Renewables

April 29, 2013: Thinking Small, Nuclear Power Enters Distributed Era

April 29, 2013: Staples unveils new solar installation

April 29, 2013: Sun Plus Nanotechnology: Can Solar Energy Get Bigger by Thinking Small?

April 29, 2013: Renewable Energy Wins Republicans Backing Oil-Gas Benefit: Taxes

April 29, 2013: Republicans Back Renewable Energy Tax Benefit Bill

April 26, 2013: Europe Energy Found in Corpus

April 25, 2013: Five Myths about Electric Cars

April 26, 2013:  Electric Vehicles Provide Electricity to the U.S. Power Grid

Other Texas News

April 29. 2013: Clearview Electric Submits Notice to Offer Prepaid Product in Texas

April 29, 2013: REP to Pay $16,000 to Settle Texas Staff Compliance Audit

April 28, 2013: Our Neighbors: Luminant Donation to United Way

April 27, 2013 CPS Receives an Offer for its Headquarters

April 28, 2013: Incentives Send CPS Execs’ Pay Soaring

April 25,  2013: FERC Technical Conference on Coordination between Natural-gas and Electricity Markets, held on 4/25/13, will be available as archived webcast for 3 months

April 19, 2013: Student Energy Plan Could Help Border Residents Turn on the Lights

April 19, 2013: Students from LBJ, Cockrell and McCombs Schools Team Up to Win Energy Challenge

April 14, 2013: U.S. Department of Energy to Fund LBJ School Research on Growth of Residential Solar in Texas

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For the Week of  4/19/13 — 4/26/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions

April 24, 2013: Texas Lawmakers Give Utilities a Tax Boost

April 23, 2013: The PUCT sunset bill passes the Senate, as Senator Fraser makes clear his position on capacity markets.  But major differences remain between the House and Senate versions of the bill.  Read a bill analysis in the TEW Short Report.

April 23, 2013: Senator Raises Issue of How to Address Power Shortages

April 23, 2013: House Committee Gives Tesla Motors a Chance

April 23, 2013: Travis Lawmaker Proposes Sunset Review for LCRA

April 23, 2013: Bill Would Let in ‘Hotter’ Nuclear Waste

April 23, 2013: Will Nostalgia Prevail in Debate over Railroad Commission Name?

April 22, 2013: Senate OKs Electric Rebates From Fund to Assist Poor

April 22, 2013: Amendment on Electricity Rebate Advances

April 22, 2013: Senate: Voters to Decide on Refunding Electricity Fee

Energy Future Holdings

April 24, 2013: Energy Future Second-Lien Bonds Jump Most in More Than a Month

April 20, 2013: EFH Bankruptcy Could Mean More Power for Texas

Generation Adequacy

April 22, 2013: Texas Nuclear Reactor Restarts, Four Months After Fire

April 22, 2013: Texas REPs Seek Changes to Deposit Rules to Accommodate Offering of Demand Response Solutions

April 21, 2013: As Financial Risks Increase, Electricity Providers Seek Help from Customers

April 22, 2013: TEPA’s Roylance Seeing Greater Demand Response Offers from Texas REPs, Calls Capacity Market Inconsistent with Customer Choice

Other Headliners

April 24, 2013: Texas General Land Office Selects Acclaim Energy Advisors As Demand Response Provider

April 24, 2013: Power Sector Readies for New Emissions Rules

April 24, 2013: Commentary: In Texas, Utility Customers Definitely don’t Benefit from ‘Free-Market Competition’

April 24, 2013: CPS Would Not End Solar Credits For Some Customers, After All

April 24, 2013: Oncor Officials Reveal Cause of Power Outages throughout Odessa

April 23, 2013: TXU Energy Walks the Energy-Efficiency Walk

April 23, 2013: 2,500 Low-income Austin Energy Customers Losing Discounts

April 23, 2013: Dynegy Closes $1.3 Billion Term Loan Facilities, $475 Million Revolving Credit Facility

April 23, 2013: Electricity Theft: A Bigger Issue Than You Think

April 22, 2013: Green Mountain Energy Company Partners with Nest to Offer First Renewable Energy Package

April 22, 2013: Reliant Launches Free Weekends with a Nest Thermostat

April 22, 2013: NRG Expands Nest Thermostat Partnership Through Its Retail Companies Reliant and Green Mountain Energy

April 22, 2013: Oil Boom Raises Electric Rates in Some Texas Towns

April 22, 2013: After 9 Years, a Fond Farewell

April 21, 2013: Power Lawsuit Leaves Tax Question Hanging

April 21, 2013: EPA Set to Align Rules on Coal Plant Water Ash Disposal

April 21, 2013: EPA Proposes Rules to Curb Power-plant Waste in Waterways

April 19, 2013: Entergy Upbeat on 1Q Prelim Earnings

Texas Renewable Power

April 24, 2013: Austin Schools’ Prop. 1 Asks for $140.6 million for Solar Field, Tech Upgrade

April 24, 2013: EDF Renewable Energy Dedicates Spinning Spur Wind Project and Launches Spinning Spur II

April 23, 2013: Solar Power Produced 100% of New Energy on U.S. Grid in March

April 24, 2013: EPA Lists US Organizations Using Most Green Power

April 24, 2013: Solar Power Workers Outnumber Coal Miners in U.S

April 24, 2013: New Battery Design Could Help Solar and Wind Power the Grid

April 23, 2013: These Modular Houses From MIT Have The Solar Power Built Into The Walls

April 23, 2013: Renewables Tapping Partnership Tax Plan Backed by Big Oil

April 22, 2013: Renewable Power’s Green vs. Green Battles Continue

April 22, 2013: Duke Energy to Boost its Renewable-energy Development

April 22, 2013: Duke Ramps Up Renewable-energy Goal

April 22, 2013: Solar Jobs Outnumber Ranchers in Texas, Actors in California

April 22, 2013: Murkowski Sees Wider Support for Clean Energy Tax Break

April 20, 2013: Local Faith Groups Produce Manual on How to Go Green

April 21, 2013: UT’s Solar-car Project Gets $50,000 Boost

April 21, 2013: White: Green Jobs Versus Real Jobs

April 21, 2013: Renewables Investment Seen Tripling Amid Supply Glut

April 21, 2013: New Study Answers Columnist’s Questions, Confirms Wind Energy’s Environmental Benefits

April 19, 2013:KB Home, Ford Team Up on Energy Efficiency

Other Texas News

April 23, 2013: Texas REP 4Change Energy Announces the Four Nonprofit Agencies Receiving Affinity Donations

April 23, 2013: Start-Up Seeks Texas REP Certificate, Affiliate of Existing Retail Provider

April 23, 2013: Texas Instruments Joins Employers Adding Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Worksites

April 22, 2013: Luminant Empowers Environmental Education with $60,000 Donation

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For the Week of  4/12/13 — 4/19/13

Texas Headlines

Texas Electric News Special

Exclusive Interview With Pat Wood—Former FERC and PUCT Chairman

At the recent GCPA conference in Houston, the former FERC and PUCT Chairman Pat Wood affirmed his support for a capacity market in ERCOT.   We caught up with him after his speech for a comprehensive, in-depth interview, in which he explains his evolution on this issue, how the market would work, and his views on the role of renewable power in Texas.  Asked if his embrace of a capacity market means that we didn’t get it right in Texas, he responded “Heavens, no! It’s more like….”  (To read more, subscribe to Texas Electric Watch (See the panel on the left), or Purchase this TEW issue: Former FERC Chair Explains Why a Capacity Market is the Answer in ERCOT.)

83rd Legislative Regular Sessions:

April 18, 2013: Radioactive Waste Bill Raises Opposition

April 18, 2013: Texas House Removes State Regulator’s Authority to Limit Greenhouse Gases

April 18, 2013: Senate Panel Votes to Weaken Citizen Rights to Protect Communities from Pollution

April 18, 2013: Lawmakers Leave Global Warming Provision Out of Greenhouse Gas Permit Bill

April 17, 2013: Lawmakers to Hear Proposal on Greenhouse Gas Powers

April 16, 2013: Potential Bankruptcy Renews Debate on Utility Tax

April 16, 2013: Texas Lawmakers Discuss Market Rates for Excess Solar Energy

April 16, 2013: Bill Would Stop Private Lawyers Who Help Counties Sue For Pollution

April 16, 2013: Bill Would Stop New Mexico Residents from Challenging Texas Waste Dump

April 12, 2013: Texas at a Policy Crossroad

Energy Future Holdings

April 18, 2013: He said, She said: Energy Future Holdings Joins a Flame War with the Sierra Club over Texas Air Pollution

April 17, 2013: Oncor Keeps Millions it Collects from Ratepayers as ‘Federal Taxes’

April 17, 2013: Texas-based Energy Future Holdings Considering Bankruptcy

April 17, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Considers Bankruptcy: Will it Affect Locals?

April 16, 2013: Energy Future Sees 33% Earnings Drop as Gas Hedges Expire

April 16, 2013: Oncor collecting $200M a Year from Customers for Taxes it Never Paid, Report Alleges

April 15, 2013: Buyout-owned EFH Proposes $32bn Debt Restructuring

April 15, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Preparing for Prepackaged Bankruptcy

April 15, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Weighs Bankruptcy Filing

April 15, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Offers Bankruptcy Plan

April 14, 2013: Former TXU Plays for Time To Pursue Bankruptcy Deal

April 14, 2013: EFH to Make May Debt Payments to Buy Time for Bankruptcy

April 11, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Corp. to Report First Quarter 2013 Results on May 3, 2013

Generation Adequacy

April 18, 2013: ERCOT’s may Congestion Right Value Rises 18.4%

April 18, 2013: Biggest LBO Collapse Seen as Boon to Texas Power Market

April 18, 2013: Demand Response Needed to Beat the Heat in Texas

April 12, 2013: It’s Official: EPA Delays Climate Rule for New Power Plants

April 12, 2013: E.P.A. Will Delay Rule Limiting Carbon Emissions at New Power Plants

Other Headliners

April 16, 2013: 5 Reasons Why Texas and Tesla Deserve Each Other

April 17, 2013: Entergy Declares Dividend

April 17, 2013: The Next Big Utility Transformation

April 17, 2013: Elster to Provide EnergyAxis Solution for Smart Meter Project in Texas

April 16, 2013: Fitch Rates Lubbock Power and Light, TX’s $16MM Power System Revenue Bonds ‘A+’; Outlook Stable

April 16, 2013: Dynegy Prices Seven-Year Term Loans

April 16, 2013: ITC Shareholders Approve Merger of Entergy’s Transmission Business Into ITC Holdings Corp.

April 16, 2013: Tres Amigas ‘Transmission Superstation’ Takes Next Step to Becoming Reality

April 16, 2013: REPs May Begin Submitting Electronic Transactions for New Choice Areas of Texas in Feb. 2014

April 13, 2013: Austin City Council is Right Not to Rush a Deal on Austin Energy

Texas Renewable Power

April 18, 2013:UNT Environmental Group Petitions University to Use Only Renewable Energy

April 18, 2013: Production Tax Credit Remains Primary Policy Driver for American Wind Power

April 18, 2013: Will The Wind Industry Maintain Its Momentum?

April 17, 2013: Study: US Can Quit Coal, Reduce Nuclear with Little Adverse Impact on Grid

April 17, 2013: EDF Acquires Remaining Stake in Spinning Spur II Wind Farm

April 16, 2013: EDF Buys Remaining 49% Stake in 161-Megawatt Texas Wind Project

April 17, 2013: US Wind Power Sector Grew by 28 percent in 2012 According to AWEA

April 15, 2013: EDF Renewable Energy Increases Investment in Texas

April 15, 2013: EDF Renewable Energy Buys Piece of Texas Wind Farm

April 15, 2013: US Wind Energy Installations Surge in 2012, says Report

April 15, 2013: Rooftop Solar vs. Utilities: The San Antonio Episode

April 14, 2013: Xcel Energy No. 1 Wind Energy Provider

April 14, 2013: Clean Energy Investment Falls 22% as Subsidy Cuts Stall Projects

April 12, 2013: Wind Farms on University Land Contribute to Renewable Energy, Give Back to UT

April 12, 2013: Five Takeaways from 2012’s Record U.S. Wind Performance

April 12, 2013: U.S. Leads in Wind Energy

April 12, 2013: Solar Power Shines in March

April 12, 2013: Geothermal Energy: Clean, Safe, Abundant

April 11, 2013: Texas Increase its Lead in Wind Power

April 11, 2013: U.S. Wind Energy Grew 28 Percent in 2012, and Texas Leads the Way

April 11, 2013: Wind Beating Guns, Boats as U.S. Turbines Almost Double

Other Texas News

April 18, 2013: Direct Energy Signs Dallas Market Center

April 17, 2013: Texas Retail Provider Offering Customers $10 Gift Card to Comparison Shop

April 16, 2013: Why Tesla Motors Is at War With Car Dealers

April 16, 2013: Texas Retail Provider Officially Announces $49 Deposit Plans

April 13, 2013: Booker T. Washington and Baylor University Students Win Top Honors in TXU Student Film Contest

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For the Week of 4/5/13–4/12/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Session

April 10, 2013: Debate over Texas Electricity Market Brews

April 10, 2013: Lewis Files Bill to Protect Buyers of Facilities Regulated by TCEQ

April 10, 2013: Tesla Takes on Texas Auto Franchise Law:  Company Lobbies to be Allowed to Sell its Electric Cars Directly to Texas Consumers

April 9, 2013: Big Switch for Water Regulation in Texas Dominates Hearing at the Capitol

April 10, 2013: Legislators Wary of ERCOT Capacity Issues; Hear Consumer Outcry Against Mandatory Smart Meters

April 9, 2013: Big Switch for Water Regulation in Texas Dominates Hearing at the Capitol

April 8, 2013: What to Watch For at the Texas Legislature This Week

April 8, 2013: Don’t Turn The Lights Off On Demand Response—Watch Out SB 1280 and SB 1351

April 8, 2013: Senate Business and Commerce Committee will hold a Public Hearing on 4/9/13 to Take Testimony on the following Electric Related Bills:
SB 241 Relating to the authority of an electric customer to choose not to have a utility’s advanced meter.
SB 1219 Relating to a customer’s right to privacy of smart meter collected data.
SB 1280  Relating to attaining reserve capacity margins in power regions to meet expected peak demand.
SB 1351 Relating to demand-side electric energy resources in the competitive electric market.
SB 1364 Relating to the computation of an electric utility’s income taxes.
SB 1586 Relating to the definition of distributed renewable generation for certain generation systems installed on publicly owned land.
HB 1600 Relating to the continuation and functions of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, to the transfer of certain functions from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and to the functions of the Office of Public Utility Counsel; authorizing a fee.

April 6, 2013: Poor May Never Get Electric Bill Help

April 5, 2013: Bill Offers Electric Bill Discount Program to Veterans

Energy Future Holdings

April 11, 2013: Sierra Club Turns Up its AD Campaign Aimed at Energy Future Holdings’ Oldest Texas Coal Plants

April 9, 2013: Battle Heats Up Over Fate of Troubled Energy Buyout

April 6, 2013: Schnurman: For Dallas-based EFH, a brighter future starts with Chapter 11

April 5, 2013: Energy Future Lenders to See 74 Cent Recovery, CreditSights Says

April 2, 2013: Turmoil, Speculation Grow Around Dallas-based EFH

Generation Adequacy

April 10, 2013: U.S. Grid Agency Monitors Texas Effort to Boost Power Reserve

April 10, 2013: Lone Star Completes Energization of 345kv Transmission Lines in Texas

April 10, 2013: Conclusion from Pat Wood GCPA Keynote: Texas Electric Deregulation Has Failed

April 9, 2013: NRG to Shed $244M for Texas Plant

April 8, 2013: TX Electric Grid Facing Water Pressure

April 8, 2013: NRG Paying $244M for Corpus Christi Power Plant

April 8, 2013: NRG Energy to Acquire Corpus Christi, Texas Cogeneration Plant

April 7, 2013: Switched on to Electricity Capacity

April 5, 2013: Community Determined to Fight Power Plant

April 4, 2013: I-Team: Low Lake Granbury Levels Raise Concerns About Nearby Comancho Peak Nuclear Plant

Other Headliners

April 11, 2013: State Encourages Drought Contingency Plans

April 11, 2013: Different Prices, Same Electricity

April 11, 2013: Austin Council Seeks to Weaken Powers of Proposed Independent Austin Energy Board—For Now

April 11, 2013: NRG Doubles Down on Distributed Generation

April 10, 2013: Texas Commission Approves Coal Mine for Mexican Power Plants

April 10, 2013: Carbon From Power Plants Down as Coal Continues to Decline

April 10, 2013: NRG Energy to Buy 560 MW Texas Cogeneration Power Plant

April 8, 2013: The Battle for Your Electricity Bill

April 10, 2013: 10 Essential Smart Grid Trends To Watch

April 10, 2013: Two Centuries Of Energy In America, In Four Graphs

April 9, 2013:  ‘Irreparable’ Safety Issues: All US Nuclear Reactors Should be Replaced, ‘Band-Aids’ Won’t Help

April 9, 2013: Ex-Regulator Says Reactors Are Flawed

April 9, 2013: The Commodities Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) April 2, 2013 Final Order Exempting Specified ERCOT Transactions from the Provisions of the Commodity and Exchange Act and CFTC Regulations

April 9, 2013:  Council to Vote Again on Independent Board for Austin Energy

April 8, 2013: The Coal Industry is In Far More Trouble Than Anyone Realizes

April 8, 2013: What Is the Role of Energy Storage in Electricity Markets?

April 8, 2013: Fitch Upgrades Dynegy Power and Dynegy Midwest Generation; Outlook Stable

April 6, 2013: Texas-Israel Partnership Pays off  in Power and Water Security

April 5, 2013: West Texas Wind Power Transmission Project Nears Completion

April 5, 2013: MISO Clears First Annual Capacity Auction

April 4, 2013: Online Attack Targets 11 Energy Companies with Emails

Texas Renewable Power

April 11, 2013: Texas Added Most New Wind Capacity in 2012

April 11, 2013: Texas Wind Industry Tops Nation in 2012

April 11, 2013: US Ranks No. 1 for New Wind Projects

April 11, 2013: Wind Energy Grows 28% in a Year, Delivering More Economic Benefits in US Than Ever Before

April 10, 2013: FERC: Majority of New Generation in 2013 is Renewable Energy

April 9, 2013: CPS Energy Proposes Slashing a Solar Power Incentive

April 9, 2013: Is Warren Buffett Betting Big on Solar?

April 9: 2013: First Solar Shares Smoking on ’13 Guidance

April 7, 2013:  Why Solar Power Stocks Are Still Earthbound

April 5, 2013: Fort Bliss to Launch Military’s Largest Renewable Energy Project

April 5, 2013: Fort Bliss to Build Biggest Solar Farm in Military

April 5, 2013: Solar Energy to Propel Plane Across the US

April 5, 2013: Xtreme Power to Sell Battery Factory, Focus on Software

April 4, 2013: The Limits of Renewable Energy

April 4, 2013: UT Incubator, UK Firm Partner for Clean Energy

Other Texas News

April 11, 2013: Reliant Marketing Rangers, Texans Themed Products

April 11, 2013: Entergy Advocates Take to Capitol Hill in Support of LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)

April 11, 2013: CPS Energy Dishing Out Record Tally of Bonus Cash

April 9, 2013: CenterPoint Energy and XTO Energy Sign Crude-Gathering Pact in Bakken Shale

April 9, 2013: New Retail Provider Offering Residential Service at Texas New-Mexico Power

April 5, 2013: Winners Named in 2013 TXU Energy Student Film Contest

==========================================================================================================

For the Week of 3/29/13–4/5/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Session

April 2, 2013:  Environmental Group Calls on Legislature to Address Power Supply

April 1, 2013: What’s On Tap in Energy and Environment at the Texas Legislature This Week

March 30, 2013: Can there be a King’s X between Electricity and Water Interests?

Energy Future Holdings

April 4, 2013: Energy Future Credit Swaps Fall After IRS Sees No Tax Liability

April 3, 2013: Dallas-based EFH Gets Good News on IRS Decision

April 3, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Could Avoid Paying Taxes on $23 billion

April 3, 2013: Tax Ruling Clears Way for Restructuring of Energy Future Holdings

April 3, 2013: TXU Spared $23 Billion of Tax Liability by IRS Ruling

March 30, 2013: Big Debts, Cheap Gas and Rolling Blackouts in Texas

Generation Adequacy

April 5, 2013: El Paso Power Plant Draws Community Opposition

April 4, 2013:Central Texas Power Plant to Double in Size

April 4, 2013: ERCOT inks 790 MW of Wind, Gas for Interconnection, Removes 1,320-MW Las Brisas Project from Queue

April 1, 2013: Environmental Defense Fund Releases “The State of the Energy Crunch in Texas” Report

April 2, 2013 :GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA Agreement with Viridity Energy For Providing Demand Response Solutions to Customers

March 29, 2013: Obstacles to More Demand Responses in ERCOT Remain

March 29, 2013: Power Markets Mixed with Small Gains in ERCOT, West

March 31, 2013: Amarillo firm oversees $500M plant in Mitchell County for electricity

March 28, 2013: Texas Utility Regulators Plan Closer Look at ERCOT Scarcity Pricing Study

March 21, 2013: Ex-Dallas Mayor at Sweetwater Summit Talks about Odessa-area Coal Plant

Other Headliners

April 4, 2013: Calpine to Announce First Quarter Results on May 2, 2013

April 4, 2013: TXU marks 30 years of Energy Aid program

April 3, 2013: Copper Thieves Cause Power Outages for 2,000 in Liberty County, Texas

April 3, 2013: Aggreko Expands in Central Texas to Meet Demand for Temporary Utility Power in Eagle Ford Shale

April 2, 2013: Mexican Energy Reform would Help S. Texas

April 2, 2013: Eyes Wide Open to Nuclear Power

April 2, 2013: Waste Heat Could Capture CO2 From Coal Plants

April 2, 2013: Texas REPs Say TDUs Should Handle Some Billing in Texas Market

April 2, 2013: Direct Energy Launches Cash Back Product in Texas

April 1, 2013: Electricity Plans Tout Savings with Gimmicks

April 1, 2013: New Transmission Lines In Texas Will Transport Renewables

April 1, 2013: Lone Star Transmission Powers 345kV Transmission Lines in US

April 1, 2013: Bryan Texas Utilities to Get Solar Power from West Texas

March 31, 2013: Ruling Puts Birds Ahead of People

March 31, 2013: Austin Energy’s Performance Should Guide the Council in Deciding its Future

March 29, 2013: EPA Updates Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for New Power Plants

March 29, 2013: TMPA Settles Coal Rate Case with BNSF Railway

March 27, 2013: Federal Appeals Court Backs EPA in Texas Clean-air case, Rejecting Arguments from Luminant and Environmental groups

March 27, 2013: CenterPoint Focuses on “Total Customer Experience”

Texas Renewable Power

April 3, 2013: 71% of Americans Want to See More Wind Energy Development

April 4, 2013: BP Prioritizes Gas and Oil as It Places its US Wind Power Business Up for Tender

April 4, 2013: Austin, Owatonna Utilities Honored for Energy Initiatives

April 4, 2013: BP Wind Sale Highlights Renewable Energy Struggles

April 3, 2013: El Paso Electric and Fort Bliss Forge Solar Energy Pact

April 3, 2013: How BP Is Joining Big Oil Retreat From Renewals

April 3, 2013: BP to Sell $3.1 Billion in U.S. Wind in Retreat to Oil

April 3, 2013: Texas Cities Roping in More Wind Energy

April 3, 2013: More Renewables for States

April 3, 2013:  Texas to Double Wind Capacity With $6.8B Transmission Investment

April 3, 2013: BP to Sell Wind Business

April 3, 2013: Suntech Unit Bankruptcy Had Roots in Deadbeat Customers

April 2, 2013: GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA Donates Renewable Energy Certificates to the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Honor of Earth Day

April 2, 2013: Solar and Fracking: They Go Together Like Ham and Eggs

April 2, 2013:  NRG Rolls Out Solar Pergola To Target Residential Market

April 2, 2013: Texas Wind Farm Gets World’s Largest Energy Storage System

April 1, 2013: Developing a Downdraft Energy Tower

April 1, 2013: Texas to Double Wind Capacity, Deliver to Major Cities

April 1, 2013:  U.S. Renewable Energy Production Now Tops Nuclear Power

April 1, 2013:  EIA: Solar Activity Can Affect Transmission Grid

March 31, 2013: Once ‘Overhyped and Sexy,’ Solar Tumbles Back to Earth

March 30, 2013: Texas Wind Power Battery Facility Opens

March 30, 2013: Victoria. Texas to Reap New Revenue from Landfill Gas

March 29, 2013:  SunEdison and the Texas Solar Non-Miracle

Other Texas News

April 4, 2013: Preparing for Shell Eco-marathon is ‘Graduation’ for Students

April 2, 2013: Employee Alleges Race Discrimination at CPS Energy

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For the Week of 3/22/13–3/29/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Session

March 28, 2013: House Railroad Commission Sunset Bill Far from Finished

March 27, 2013: Report on Tx House State Affairs Hearing 3/27/13 on Various Electric Bills
Should the Renewable Portfolio Standard be removed from PURA?  Should generation resources outside of ERCOT, and not currently connected to ERCOT, be considered as alternatives to resolve transmission constraints in ERCOT, or is the possible related invitation to FERC oversight a sufficient reason to disregard such alternatives?  These and other electric issues were considered at the March 27, 2013 Hearing of the House State Affairs Committee.  (To read more on this, subscribe to Texas Electric Watch and if you are interested in purchasing this TEW issue, please click here)

March 27, 2013: Riddle Defends Her Vote to Keep PUC Cease and Desist Powers

March 27, 2013: House Approves Way to Pay for More Water Projects

March 27, 2013: Rep. Workman Bills would Weaken Austin’s Environmental Laws

Energy Future Holdings

March 20, 2013: Hedge Fund Says Tottering, Dallas-based Electricity Giant is Ruining Creditors

Generation Adequacy

March 29, 2013: New Thinking Is Critical To Better Manage Water And Electricity Resources In Texas

March 29, 2013: Texas Commissioner Anderson Says Marginal Cost Includes Long-Run Marginal Cost, PUCT Approves Voluntary Mitigation Plans

March 27, 2013: Texas Chair Nelson Proposes Workshop “This Summer” on Operating Reserve Demand Curve Proposal

March 27, 2013: PUCT Chair Nelson’s Memo on Generation Adequacy Proceeding

March 26, 2013: ERCOT Plan Rewards Electricity Cuts During Peak Demand

March 25, 2013: ERCOT Press Release: New Pilot Program Offers Incentives to Reduce Electric Use during Summer Peaks

March 26, 2013: ERCOT Adopts Weather-Sensitive Demand Response Pilot

Other Headliners

March 28, 2013: Lone Star Transmission Energizes 330 Miles of New 345-KV Transmission Line in Texas

March 28, 2013: Dynegy Launches Refinancing

March 27, 2013: Reforming the Texas Railroad Commission

March 26, 2013: TXU Energy Says Innovation and Customer Service Will Define Leaders in Texas’ Retail Electric Market

March 26, 2013: Do Regulators Really Want Innovation from Retail Suppliers?

March 26, 2013: Bickering Erupts Among Texas Oil Regulators

March 26, 2013: Reliant Marketing ‘Keep it Cool’ Plan with 15% Discount, Free AC Tune Up

March 26, 2013: Hackers Hit Energy Companies More than Others

March 25, 2013: Report: Texas Retail Provider Complaint Violation Rates Increase in 2012

March 24, 2013: Don’t Rush toward Unaccountable Utility Board for Austin

March 24, 2013: Electric Utility Commissioners: Austin Energy Needs Fixing

March 22, 2013: Locals at City of Kerrville Oppose ‘Smart Meters’

March 23, 2013: Colorado City, Texas Gas Plant Ruled Out as Lubbock Seeks Power Source

Texas Renewable Power

March 28, 2013: Report: Some Federal Wind Energy Programs “Duplicative”

March 27, 2013: Austin Energy Installs 224 kW Rooftop PV Plant at USD 2.21 per Watt

March 27, 2013: Advocates Pushing Solar for Houston Businesses

March 27, 2013: Wind Farm Seeks County Approval

March 27, 2013: Violent Environmental Problems With Wind Turbine Operation

March 25, 2013: NRG Skirts Utilities Taking Solar Panels to U.S. Rooftop

March 25, 2013: Bids to Repeal Renewable Energy Standards Gaining Traction?

March 24, 2013: NADB Approves Loan for Rio Grande Solar Project

March 22, 2013: Apple Owns Biggest Private Solar Power System in US

March 22, 2013: Senator Introduces Measure To Repeal Wind Energy Production Tax Credit

March 22, 2013: Small Wind Power Installations Could Double in Capacity by 2018

Other News in Texas

March 28, 2013: $5 Million Donation to TXU Energy Aid Program to Help Needy Customers Pay Electricity Bills

March 27, 2013: Texas Tech University Announces Jack Maddox Distinguished Chair

March 20, 2013: Research Shows How Prepaid Electricity Affects Consumption

=======================================================================================

For the Week of 3/15/13–3/22/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Session

March 21, 2013: Coming Soon to the TCEQ: Greenhouse Gas Permits?

March 21, 2013: Texas House Debates Requiring Written Notice of Increases in REP Variable Rates; Adopts Sunset Bill

March 21, 2013: Texas House Erupts in Heated Debate over ‘Smart meters’ for Electricity

March 20, 2013: Sparks Fly in Texas House Over Reauthorizing PUCT

March 20, 2013: House Passes Public Utility Commission Sunset Bill

March 20, 2013: House Gives Utility Commission Emergency Powers

March 20, 2013: House to Take Up Bill renewing PUCT

March 19, 2013: Bill Would Turn Greenhouse Gas Permits over to TCEQ

March 15, 2013: Environmental Bills Make Rounds at Legislature

Energy Future Holdings

March 20, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Comes Under Fire From One of Its Creditors

March 20, 2013: Aurelius Sues Energy Future Unit Directors Over Loans

March 20, 2013: Aurelius Sues EFH Over Loan Deal

March 20, 2013: Creditors of Energy Future Sue for $725 Millions

Generation Adequacy

March 22, 2013: Shock: Brattle Says Energy-Only Market Sustainable From a Resource Adequacy Perspective

March, 21, 2013: Power Congestion Expected to Send Prices Soaring in West Texas this Summer

March 21, 2013: ERCOT Files Backcast Showing Market Impact of Scarcity Pricing Interim Solution B+ March 20, 2013: ERCOT filed Additional Analysis of the “Interim Solution B”  Scarcity Pricing Proposal

March 21, 2013: ERCOT Issues Final Determination of RMR Status for LCRA Plant

March 18, 2013: Deregulation is Working Against Clean Coal in Texas

Other Headliners

March 20, 2013: Getting facts about Austin Energy before Making Changes is Good Move for Council

March 20, 2013: Highlights of ERCOT Retail Market Subcommittee Meeting. The PUCT staff provided an update to the Retail Market Subcommittee (RMS) on the Advanced Metering Implementation Team (AMIT), noting that it is now closed and the Advanced Metering Working Group (AMWG) will replace it.  The Smart Meter Texas (SMT) staff said that the portal may be renamed, and that all final decisions related to it rest with the PUCT.

March 19, 2013: Power Agency Considers Energy Sources for 2019, could Top $420 Millions

March 19, 2013: New Release: ERCOT Announces New Vice Presidents in Two Key Areas

March 19, 2013: Highlights of ERCOT Board Meeting 3/19/13 Among other items, the ERCOT CEO reported that: (a) ERCOT expects a small favorable balance at year end; (b) ERCOT will likely need to call for some energy conservation in the summer months; (c) a new wind record was set on 2/9/13, of 9,481MW, supplying 27.82% of load.

March 19, 2013: Environmental Justice and the EPA’s New Man in Texas

March 18, 2013: Entergy Corporation Issues Statement in Palisades Nuclear Power Plant

March 18, 2013: Highlights of Discussion at ERCOT Board’s Finance and Audit Committee Meeting Among the items discussed were user fees and the recently defeated proposal for a limit on the Letters of Credit (LOC) per financial institution.

March 15, 2013: A Real Carbon Solution

March 15, 2013: Luminant: Five Years – By the Numbers

March 15, 2013: CenterPoint $11B Deal Reaches Further into Shale

March 13, 2013: ERCOT Wholesale Market Committee Meeting   Among other issues, WMS discussed topics from the Market Credit Working Group, including a failed veto to limit Letter of Credit per financial institution. The Congestion Management Working Group provided WMS with a detailed presentation on Congestion Revenue Right Transaction Limits.  (To read more about these and other discussion items at the recent WMS meeting, subscribe to the ERCOT Monitor Reports.)

Texas Renewable Power

March 21, 2013: Solar Promoted for Texas Hill Country

March 21, 2013: Apple now Gets 75% of its Total Power Needs from Renewable Energy including  Austin Campus

March 21, 2013: Apple Issues Annual Environmental Report, Touts Renewable Energy Use

March 20, 2013: Small Wind Turbine Installations To Double By 2018

March 20, 2013: Wind Energy Continues to Grow

March 20, 2013: US Solar Market Grows 76%

March 20, 2013: New Reasons to Change Light Bulbs

March 20, 2013: El Paso City Council Approves Funds for Solar Plan

March 20, 2013: In Austin, Pecan Street Inc. and CCET Launch 18-month Electricity Pricing and Customer Behavior Research

March 20, 2013: Wind Energy Records Fall in Texas, and They’re Ready for More

March 18, 2013: Wind Generates More Than 10% of Electricity in Nine States

March 17, 2013: Texas Panhandle Wind Energy Business Booming

March 15, 2013: Kerr County Seeks Grant for Solar Panels

March 15, 2013: Energy Storage Technology to Surge Worldwide

Other News in Texas

March 21, 2013: Cirro Energy Announces New Managing Director

March 21, 2013: DEFG Report Confirms Prepaid Energy Leads to Significant Drop in Energy Consumption

March 19, 2013: After a Powerful Lobbyist Intervenes, EPA Reverses Stance on Polluting Texas County’s Water

March 11, 2013: TXU Energy Accused of “Systemic” Rate Overcharging

March 18, 2013: New Retail Provider Offering Service in Texas

======================================================================================

For the Week of 3/8/13–3/15/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Session

March 14, 2013: Eminent Domain Comes to the Texas Legislature

March 13, 2013: Rafael Anchia Files a Bill to Help Texas Export its Natural Gas

March 11, 2013: Intersection of Homeowners Associations Interests and Environmental Ones at Center of Legislative Proposals

Energy Future Holdings

March 8, 2013: Big Texas Power Provider EFH Seeks New Rules

Generation Adequacy

March 15, 2013: Highlights of discussion on 3/14/13 PUCT workshop on Increasing Demand Response (DR) in the ERCOT market

March 15, 2013: Highlights of discussion on 3/14/13 PUCT workshop on Inputs that go into the Capacity, Demand, and Reserves (CDR) Reports

March 15, 2013: Nelson: Texas Needs to Make Sure Rules Don’t Prevent REPs from Offering Load Response Technologies to Customers due to Churn Concerns

March 13, 2013: Demand Response Should Compete on Equal Basis in ERCOT: US FTC

March 13, 2013: Federal Trade Commission to Texas: Regulate Retail Electric Providers’ Marketing Claims for Demand Response Products

March 7, 2013: Texas Power Adequacy Debate Offers No Easy Answers

March 7, 2013: Experts Discuss Ways to Trim Texas’ Use of Electricity

March 7, 2013: Coal, Wind Gain on Natural Gas’ Share of ERCOT February Fuel Mix: Report

Other Headliners

March 15, 2013: Oncor Named a Top Ten Utility in North America

March 14, 2013: Committee Approves Critical Cybersecurity R&D Bills

March 14, 2013: Fitch Rates Lower Colorado River Auth, TX Transmission Contract Rev Bonds ‘A+’; Outlook Stable

March 11, 2013: SWEPCO Plans Appeal of Texas Court Ruling over PUCT Right to Install Cost Caps

March 11, 2013: Texas 9th for Clean Energy Jobs in 2012

March 10, 2013: NRC: 2 Years After Fukushima, U.S. Nuclear Plants Safer

March 10, 2013: Disputed Power Lines Going up on I-10 in Texas

March 10, 2013: US Nuclear Plants Safer than Ever, Agency Chairwoman Says

March 8, 2013: Security Threats a Certainty On Energy Networks, ex-CIA Head Says

March 8, 2013: Bill Gates says Nuclear Power is the Key to Solving Climate Change

Texas Renewable Power

March 14, 2013: Wind Energy Drives More than Just Turbines

March 14, 2013: Solar Industry Reports Record Growth in 2012

March 14, 2013: Top Ten US Solar Energy States

March 13, 2013: U.S. Carbon Output to Fall to 1970s Levels by 2040: Exxon

March 12, 2013: Is the Renewable Energy Boom Slowing Down?

March 12, 2013: US Wind Energy is now More Economic than Nuclear Power – Bloomberg

March 11, 2013: Wind Power as a Long-Term Natural Gas Hedge

March 11, 2013: Nuclear Industry Withers in US as Wind Pummels Prices

March 8, 2013: Getting More Renewables Into The Texas Energy Mix

March 8, 2013: Patented Technique Key to New Solar Power Technology

March 8, 2013: OCI Solar Power Breaks Ground on 400MW US Power Project

March 8, 2013: Renewables Turn Utilities into Dinosaurs of the Energy World

March 8, 2013: Solar Batteries Could be Utilities’ Next Headache

March 6, 2013: U.S. Added over 100,000 Clean Industry Jobs Last Year

Other News in Texas

March 14, 2013: CenterPoint Plans $11B Midstream Joint-Venture MLP

March 13, 2013: Direct Energy Business Wins Defense Logistics Agency Contract

March 13, 2013: Stream Energy Cutting Customer Deposit Requirements in Half

March 12, 2013: EPRI: Texas Drivers would Pay Premium to Charge Electric Vehicles at Work

March 8, 2013: NuStar Proposing to Place CPS Energy EVP to the Board

March 8, 2013: Fitch Affirms Floresville’s (TX) Electric System Revs at ‘AA-‘; Outlook Stable

=============================================================================================================================

For the Week of 3/1/13–3/8/13

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Session

March 2, 2013: Texas Legislature: Gas Takes Wind from Turbines’ Sails

March 3, 2013: Houston can Transform Utility Easements into Greenways

March 2, 2013: Bill Aims to make it Easier for Businesses to Pay for Renewable Energy Features

Feb 28, 2013: Tea Party Legislator Wants to Eliminate Texas’ Wind Energy Standard

Energy Future Holdings

March 4, 2013: Wholesale Power: Bankruptcies and Lessons

March 5, 2013: Energy Future’s Oncor Utility Valuation Lowered by CreditSights

March 3, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Deal Hurt Texas

March 3, 2013: Energy Future Holdings’ Impressive Report Card

Generation Adequacy

March 7, 2013: EPA Manufacturing an Energy Crisis in Texas

March 7, 2013: Texas Officials May Decide This Fall on Power Market Changes

March 7, 2013: Summer Demand may Raise Heat on Texas Grid

March 7, 2013: Agenda for PUCT 3/14/13 Workshop to Examine Inputs in the ERCOT Capacity, Demand, and Reserve Report

March 7, 2013: Agenda for PUCT 3/14/13 Workshop Addressing Issues related to Demand Responses in ERCOT Market

March 6, 2013: Gas Interconnection Requests in ERCOT Climb; AEP, Oncor Submit Wires Projects

March 1, 2013:  ERCOT Workshop on Weather-Sensitive Load On 3/1/13, ERCOT staff held a workshop to present their proposal for a pilot program to include Weather-Sensitive Load (WSL) in the Emergency Response Service (ERS).  The workshop is a response to efforts to alleviate peak demand in ERCOT, both in summer and winter, since it is driven by WSL.  (To read more on this topic, subscribe to the ERCOT Monitor Reports.)

March 4, 2013:  Update on Electric Projects and Rulemakings at the PUCT Following related rules passed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, two pilot projects are underway at ERCOT.  One pilot is for the Fast Responding Regulation Service that would have generation respond quickly to a frequency deterioration event on the ERCOT grid, thereby improving reliability.    The second pilot is for a 30 minute ramp period for Emergency Interruptible  Load, which would be a service open to demand response loads.  (To read more on this topic and for updates on other PUCT rulemakings, subscribe to the Texas Electric Policy News.)

March 1, 2013: Seasonal Assessment of Resources Adequacy for the ERCOT Region-Spring 2013

March 1, 2013: Preliminary Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy for the ERCOT Region-Summer 2013

March 1, 2013: Tight Power Reserves Expected this Summer

Other Headliners

March 8, 2013: Austin Energy Wins Round One

March 6, 2013: Texas Staff, GDF Suez Seek Approval of New Voluntary Mitigation Plan

March 5, 2013: Austin City Council should Bring Forth Facts for Changing Austin Energy’s Governing Structure

March 3, 2013: Texas Deregulation Fantasies Lead to Consumer Nightmares

March 1, 2013: Austin City Council Approves Electric Rate Compromise

Texas Renewable Power

March 8, 2013: Energy Will Need a Diversity of Sources

March 7, 2013: PEC Members Can Lease Solar Panels for Their Homes

March 7, 2013: Energy Projects Developers See Solar as Easier Than Wind

March 7, 2013: Sky’s the Limit for Solar in Texas

March 7, 2013: Shell Sees Bright Future Ahead for Solar Energy

March 7, 2013: Hybrids Gain Texas Fans

March 6, 2013: Texas Ranks among Top 10 States for Clean Energy and Clean Transportation Projects and Jobs Announced in 2012

March 6, 2013: Solar Panels Rare Amid the Steeples

March 5, 2013: Amid Oil Boom, Saudi Aramco Looks to Renewable

March 5, 2013: 800 Employees Needed for New Alamo Solar Farm at San Antonio

March 5, 2013: OCI Solar to Break Ground on Solar Energy Project

March 4, 2013: OCI Solar Power Set to Break Ground on Largest Solar Facility in Texas

March 4, 2013: Victoria, Texas Looks for Solar Energy Funding

March 4, 2013: Pedernales Electric Co-op Introduces Home Solar Rental

March 3, 2013: Texas Wind Power could Feel Effects of Sequester Storm

March 3, 2013: Texas Wind Energy Sets Record; Grid Expansion Planned in Sweetwater Area

March 3, 2013: Solar Struggles to Shine in Deregulated Texas Electricity Market

March 1, 2013: Honda Announces Partnership With Solar City To Provide Cheaper Solar Power

Other News in Texas

March 4, 2013: Next Up: A Binational Approach in El Paso

March 5, 2013: Texas A&M Cuts Energy Bill Despite Expanding Campus

March 4, 2013: Texas A&M Attaining Multi-Million-Dollar Savings Through Energy And Water Use Efficiencies

March 4, 2013: Aggie Make Headway in Energy, Water, Landfill Waste Savings

March 4, 2013: CPS to Build a New Communications System

March 4, 2013: CPS Energy Partners with Silver Spring Networks To Grow Smart Grid Network

March 3, 2013: Of Shopping, Dialing and Lighting

March 1, 2013: Austin Council Delays Vote to Loosen Environmental Rules for Some Development

========================================================================================================================

Texas Electric News Clips (2/22/13–3/1/13)

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Session

Feb 27, 2013: Texas Legislature: Homes built into Bill Seeking Energy Efficiency

Feb 25, 2013: Smart Meter Briefing in Austin, TX on March 4

Feb 25, 2013: State Senates Push for More Scrutiny of Texas Special-Event Funds

Energy Future Holdings

March 1, 2013: Warren Buffett Called The Explosion Of The Biggest Leveraged Buy-Out Deal In History Last Year

Feb 27, 2013: CenterPoint Would Look to Buy Oncor If Up for Sale

Feb 27, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Creditors Prepare for Battle

Feb 27, 2013: Energy Future Creditors Said to Hire Millstein for Debt Talks

Feb 26, 2013: Six Years Later, The Biggest Leveraged Buyout Deal In History Faces Spectacular Failure

Feb 26, 2013: It’s Past Time for a Remedy at EFH

Feb 25, 2013: Energy Future Failure May Be Buyout Milestone for KKR

Feb 25, 2013: Biggest LBO Failure Becomes Energy Future Purgatory for KKR

Generation Adequacy

March 1, 2013: ERCOT Sees Another Tight Summer for Texas Power Supplies in 2013

March 1, 2013: Texas Electric Supply will be “Very tight”, ERCOT says

March 1, 2013: Press Release: ERCOT Expects Another Tight Summer

March 1, 2013: In PUCT Open Meeting today, Discussion on Addressing Generation Adequacy           Chairman Nelson filed a memo defining “the process for moving forward” regarding a reserve demand curve to improve generation adequacy.  She’s been having meetings with many parties to try to understand all of the issues, and the options are being further analyzed.  (to read more on this topic,subscribe to the Texas Electric Policy News.)

Feb 28, 2013: PUCT Chairman Nelson Proposes No Implementation of Interim Demand Curve this Summer

Feb 27, 2013: ERCOT Studying Alternative Solutions to Generation Adequacy Problem              ERCOT’s Technical Advisory Committee held a workshop on 2/20/13 to consider alternative solutions to the generation adequacy problem in ERCOT.  This was also, in part, to prepare for the 3/14/13 PUCT workshop in Project Nos. 41060 and 41061, which will address issues surrounding the calculation of the reserve margin and the need for increased Demand Response programs. (To read more on this report, subscribe to the Texas Electric Watch.)

Feb 27, 2013: NRG to add 2,000 MW of US Natgas, Solar Power in 2013, including in Texas

Feb 27, 2013: Texas Competitive Electricity Market is Healthy Despite Generation Adequacy Concern

Feb 26, 2013: Perry can recharge the Public Utility Commission to Solve Generation Inadequacy in ERCOT

Non Legislative Headliners

Feb 28, 2013: ERCOT Credit Working Group Meeting, Discussion on Letter of Credit          At a joint meeting of the ERCOT Credit Working Group and Market Credit Working Group, there was discussion of whether to cap the amount of Letters of Credit per financial institution.  Market participants post these Letters of Credit with ERCOT to insure that the cost of fulfilling grid requirements is born by those who cause the cost.  (to read more on this topic, subscribe to the ERCOT Monitor Reports)

Feb 27, 2013: Direct Energy Looking to Buy Retailers in Texas

Feb 27, 2013: NRG Sees Slowdown in Retail Growth, Reorganizes Leadership of Texas/Northeast Businesses

Feb 26, 2013: City of Austin, Critics Close to Settlement on Rate-increase Appeal

Feb 26, 2013: Pat Wood says Capacity Market Best for Energy Efficiency

Feb 25, 2013: Wind Storms Topple Power Lines and an 18-Wheeler on Texas 130

Feb 25, 2013: High Wind Caused 8,000 Austin Energy Customers Without Power

Feb 25, 2013: Fitch affirms American Electric Power & Units Ratings

Feb 25, 2013: Oncor Solves Outages without Customers, but with Smart Meters

Feb 25, 2013: Pat Wood, Former Chairman of FERC and PUCT, will Speak at SPEER’s Annual Summit at Austin on February 26, 2013

Feb 22, 2013: Austin Energy Defends Rate Increase

Texas Renewable Power

Feb 28, 2013: Shell Sees Solar as Biggest Energy Source After Exiting It

Feb 27, 2013: Wind and Solar Power are Plentiful, but They’re not Always There When You Need Them

Feb 27, 2013: Solar Panels Rise on Fort Bliss Homes: Step to Energy Self-sufficiency

Feb 27, 2013:  San Antonio VIA Metropolitan Transit Rolls out Electric Buses

Feb 27, 2013: El Paso Electric Solar Grid is One of Texas’ Weakest

Feb 26, 2013: Light Bulb Appears Over Energy Regulator’s Head

Feb 26, 2013: Buy a Honda, Get Solar

Feb 25, 2013: Solar Insights and Peak into the Future

Feb 25, 2013: Wind Power is a Blowing Force in Texas

Feb 25, 2013: Wind-energy Programs Yield Engineering Jobs

Feb 25, 2013: Electric Cars Surging, or Out of Juice?

Feb 25, 2013: Cool Earth Solar’s Big Deal with Sandia

Feb 22, 2013: Survey: Majority Support Focus on Alternative Energy

Other News in Texas

March 1, 2013: Austin Council Delays Vote to Loosen Environmental Rules for Some Development

Feb 28, 2013: TriEagle Energy Receives New License, Looking to New Markets as 10th Anniversary Celebrated

Feb 27, 2013: Bounce Energy Launches Build Your Own Energy Plan in Texas

Feb 26, 2013: CPS Energy’s CEO Beneby Accepts 3-year Deal

Feb 25, 2013: Xtreme Power at Austin, TX, Catches Up With the Big Players in Grid Storage

Feb 22, 2013: CPS Energy nearly Doubling Size of South San Antonio Center

======================================================================================================================

Texas Electric News Clips (2/15/13–2/22/13)

Texas Headlines

83rd Legislative Regular Session

Feb 21, 2013: Solar Systems could be Offered as Standard in New Texas Homes Feb 15, 2013: Proposed Bill Would Require Solar Energy System as Standard Option in New Homes

Feb 14, 2013: Texas Renewable Energy Faces Hurdles in Legislature

Energy Future Holdings

Feb 20, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Raises Specter of Default, Bankruptcy Feb 20, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Warns of Potential Bankruptcy, Reports Huge Losses Feb 19, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Warns of Bankruptcy Risk Feb 19, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Warns on Bankruptcy Feb 19, 2013: Energy Future Reports $1.95 Billion Quarterly Loss Feb 19, 2013: Energy Future Holdings’ Fourth-quarter Loss Widens to $1.95 billion Feb 19, 2013: Energy Future Holdings Reports $3.36 Billion Loss Feb 19, 2013: New Release :Energy Future Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

Generation Adequacy

Feb 21, 2013: Luminant Considers Adding Two Generators at Hood County Power Plant

Feb 21, 2013: Competitive Generator Says Competitive Retail Market, With Transient Customers, Can’t Support “Investment,” Innovation

Feb 20, 2013: Does ERCOT Need a Higher Reserve Margin?                 It was not that long ago that the target planning reserve margin (TPRM) in ERCOT was at 12.5%.  An increase to 13.75% was approved by the ERCOT Board in November 2010. But a year later, in December 2011, ERCOT sounded alarm in its report “ERCOT 10-year Outlook Indicates Need for Additional Generation.” (To read more about this, subscribe to Texas Electric Watch.)

Feb 20, 2013: One More Problem for Energy Future Holdings: Wind Power Feb 15, 2013: Texas Grid Braces for Possible Power Company Restructuring

Feb 20, 2013: Constellation Offering Commercial Customers New Ways to Reduce Electricity Supply Bills

Feb 19, 2013: ERCOT to Investigate Reliability Must-run Status for LCRA Plant Feb 19, 2013: ERCOT Issues Initial Determination of RMR Status for LCRA Plant

Feb 18, 2013: A White Stallion Falls in the Mud…. Feb 18, 2013: Devlopers Drop Plans for Texas Coal Plant Feb 15, 2013: White Stallion Energy Suspends Coal Plant Project Feb 15, 2013: After White Stallion Power Plant Canceled, Coal Faces Dark Future in Texas Feb 15, 2013: Coal, An Obituary Feb 14, 2013: Beyond Coal Texas Targets Big Brown Plant

Feb 15, 2013: Texas Regulators Approve Look into Smart Meter Opt-out Proposal

Feb 15, 2013: Power Demand Blunts Effect of Low Natural Gas Prices

Non Legislative Headliners

Feb 22, 2013: Calpine, Texas Staff Reach Settlement on Voluntary Mitigation Plan

Feb 20, 2013: ERCOT’s Retail Market Subcommittee on Advanced Meters and Project Priorities                      ERCOT’s RMS approved creation of the Advanced Metering Working Group to replace the PUCT’s Advanced Metering Implementation Team.  RMS also reported on the Project Priority List being managed to $15.4 million.  (To read more subscribe to the ERCOT Monitor Reports.)

Feb 20, 2013: State Government Hoarding, Not Spending Clean-Air Money

Feb 20, 2013: LCRA, Enviro Group Settle over Fayette Power Plant Soot Emissions

Feb 20, 2013: TXU: July and August Could Be An “Issue” for Some REPs Due to Higher ERCOT Caps, Cites Margin Pressure

Feb 20, 2013: Entergy Texas and ITC File Final Transaction Request with Public Utility Commission of Texas Feb 20, 2013: Entergy Texas Files at PUCT to Transfer Transmission Assets to ITC Subsidiary

Feb 17, 2013: City Council Should Build a Case based on Facts for Changing Governance of Austin Energy

Feb 15, 2013: American Electric Power profit beats in 4Q Feb 15, 2013: American Electric Fourth-Quarter Net Down 93% on Write-Down Charges

Feb 15, 2013: American Electric Pollution Costs to Fall on Lower Coal Use

Texas Renewable Power

Feb 22, 2013: PTC Impact on Widespread Renewables Uncertain

Feb 20, 2013: Wind Whipping Texas Coal Generation

Feb 20, 2013: Nexolon Breaks Ground on San Antonio Solar Plant

Feb 21, 2013: E.ON Dedicates 100 MW Anacacho Wind Farm in Texas Feb 20, 2013: E.ON Climate & Renewables Dedicates Texas Wind Farm

Feb 19, 2013: Facts Show Renewable Energy Success

Feb 19, 2013: Wind Generation Records Fall in Texas, Colorado, Pacific Northwest

Feb 15, 2013: Educating the Wind Energy Workforce

Feb 15, 2013: Solar Power: Is It A Better Deal Than We Think?

Feb 14, 2013: San Antonio, Austin Lead State in Solar Generation

Other News in Texas

Feb 20, 2013: El Paso Electric Profit off 12.3% on Lower Rates

Feb 19, 2013: Flash: TXU Net Churn Up When Excluding Inorganic Additions

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