03.08.2009

Congress created the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in 1974 as an independent agency with the mandate to regulate commodity futures and option markets in the United States. The agency’s mandate has been renewed and expanded several times since then, most recently by the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. Today, the CFTC assures the economic utility of the futures markets by encouraging their competitiveness and efficiency, protecting market participants against fraud, manipulation, and abusive trading practices, and by ensuring the financial integrity of the clearing process. Through effective oversight, the CFTC enables the futures markets to serve the important function of providing a means for price discovery and offsetting price risk. The Energy and Environmental Markets Advisory Committee (formerly the Energy Markets Advisory Committee) was created in 2008 to advise the Commission on important new developments in energy and environmental futures markets that may raise new regulatory issues, and the appropriate regulatory response to ensure market integrity and competition, and protect consumers. The committee has a charter regarding energy and environmental markets

The combination of reactive power and true power is called apparent power, and it is the product of a circuit’s voltage and current, without reference to phase angle. Apparent power is measured in the unit of Volt-Amps (VA) and is symbolized by the capital letter S. As a rule, true power is a function of a circuit’s dissipative elements, usually resistances (R). Reactive power is a function of a circuit’s reactance (X). Apparent power is a function of a circuit’s total impedance (Z).

The long-term corporate credit rating on IEC was lowered to ‘BBB’ by S&P from ‘BBB+’ on March 24, 2009. The rating remains on CreditWatch with negative implications, where it was placed on Dec. 20, 2008. The rating is Baa2 by Moodys.

In October 2010, S&P cut IEC’s credit to BBB-negative falling because of the lack of fluidity, the high capital expenses required and the lack of certainty regarding the electricity tariff.

As of 31st December 2009, the state is a guarantor of 5.9 billion shekels worth of debts for IEC. IEC’s total debts are currently 61.7 billion shekels.

4th Jan 2011 – S&P downgrades IEC int’l rating from BBB- to BB+ with a negative outlook. S&P Maalot also downgraded IEC to AA-

With a combined membership of over 14,000 individuals and 300 companies across 100 countries, the Energy Institute is the leading chartered professional membership body for those working and studying in energy, providing a wide range of energy courses. Providing an independent focal point and a powerful voice to engage business and industry, government, academia and the public, the EI promotes the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications. In fulfilling this purpose the EI addresses the depth and breadth of energy and the energy system, from upstream and downstream hydrocarbons and other primary fuels and renewables, to power generation, transmission and distribution to sustainable development, demand side management and energy efficiency. Offering learning and networking opportunities to support career development, the EI provides a home to all those working in energy, and a scientific and technical reservoir of knowledge for industry

The Energy Management Institute is an innovative professional services firm providing insight into the energy future. EMI uses its specialized energy market expertise to bring a wide array of services and products to energy professionals, including energy education and training focusing on downstream petroleum, alternative fuels, natural gas, and power; market Data and News: Energy newsletters, database, and real-time content feeds; Advisory Services: Risk Management Strategy Design & Implementation & Portfolio Management

Oil equivalent to natural gas equivalent:

6 mmcf of natural gas = 1 mmbl of oil (one thousand barrels of oil)

Used for drilling vertical holes. A vertical well is always the preferred, easiest and cheapest option. No petroleum engineer or geologist is going to recommend horizonal wells when and where vertical wells will efficiently drain the reservoir. even with greater efficiency, the additional cost of a horizontal well may not–even probably will not, warrant the extra cost. In addition, there is more engineering risk in horizontal wells. All horizontal (directional wells) start out as vertical wells, theoretically one coud back out of the reservoir and kick off in a new direction.

All these terms refer to long term LNG contracts. LNG projects require substantial capital investments in liquefaction trains and other supply infrastructure, which developers must have assurance that they can recover. Therefore most LNG is traded under long term contracts, typically of 10-20 years duration.

There are two types of biomass: raw or primary biomass and secondary biomass. Secondary biomass is any material that was derived from raw biomass but has undergone significant chemical and physical changes. Secondary biomass includes paper and cardboard, leather, pulping liquors, cotton, linen, hemp, natural rubber products, cellulose-derived casings, used cooking oils, tall oil, cheese whey, etc.

Passive heating/cooling system. Enclosed water above and in immediate contact with ceiling elements, with movable insulation, which expose ponds to the winter sun for heating, and to the night sky for summer cooling.