Coal Remains Main Source Of German Energy Supply

The PA Awards ceremony held last week at the New York Academy of Sciences brought together industry leaders and consultants to discuss and review emerging trends and challenges of the utility industry.

The evening involved an Executive Forum, “How technology and regulatory change is driving a customer-centric transformation of the utility.” Panelists included Robert Schimmenti, Senior Vice-President Electric Operations of Con Edison New York, Phil Guidice, CEO of Ambri, Michael Lapides, Vice-President and Senior Analyst at Goldman Sachs and Emma Hand, VP of the Energy Bar Association at SNR Denton. Here are some of the topics they discussed:

  • Financial Opportunities – economics of the shift to a customer-centric model and potential investment opportunities
  • Regulatory insights – change in regulation to meet the changing needs
  • Technology – preparing for new technology developments
  • Lessons learned – insights into what other countries have done to meet demand

After the Executive Forum, Breaking Energy discussed pressing market issues with panelist Matt Mooren – Member of Management Team, PA Consulting Group, Inc. He is a well-respected energy economist who works across the value chain, including the natural gas, power, coal, renewable sectors and electric infrastructure, particularly in relation to the generation-transmission-customer chain.

Q. Will Oil Prices Fall Further? 

A: It is difficult to predict how far oil prices could fall considering recent market fluctuations and the prevailing market and policy considerations. However, it is widely accepted that the age of volatility with oil prices has returned.

Q. What is the United States natural gas price outlook? 

A: In the medium term, the price level should remain stable but factors such as oil prices, demand for coal, power plant output and LNG production will have to be continually monitored.

Q: What projects are you and your colleagues at PA Consulting Group working on currently? 

A: Over the last few months we have been working on a number of projects including Electric Utilities development and changes in the market, merger and acquisitions of fossil fuel and renewable generators in Texas, the Mid-Atlantic, New York and New England.

Award recipients included San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) who were honored for their ability to optimize processes and moving towards integrating current tools with new technology to help manage information.

Regional ReliabilityOne award recipients included:

Northeast Region – Consolidated Edison Company of New York

Mid-Atlantic Region – Public Service Electric & Gas Company

South Region – Florida Power & Light

West Region – San Diego Gas & Electric

Midwest Region – We Energies

Plains Region – Kansas City Power & Light

PA is an employee owned firm of 2,500 people, operating globally with offices in North America, Europe, the Nordics, the Gulf and Asia Pacific, offering consulting expertise in energy, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing, government and public services, defense and security, telecommunications, transport and logistics.