Clearlead

Duke Energy Wants to Own Every Piece of the Smart Grid

utilities are uniquely positioned to optimize the grid and ensure reliability. If distributed resources are willing to take on the reliability liability of up to $1 million per day per FERC policy, that's great, but I doubt it. Furthermore, an open system does not necessarily translate to more competition in supply given the experience in retail access states that enjoyed very high costs as a result of "deregulation," indeed it may just mean less secure and less reliable grid. How much does a blackout cost the nation!

The Energy Detective, Now with Google’s PowerMeter

who cares to buy a fancy monitor if it doesn't give you any pricing information on the cost of electricity? In other words, it sounds like this is not telling me when to reduce consumption via a price signal, but just what I am consuming, which I find out for free every month on my bill.

A123 Systems IPO Meets with Great Success

hyped, overbought, but coming back down....ah there under 19 again!

20 Companies Most Likely to Go Bankrupt in Next Year

Jeez a chimp list.

Smart Grid Requires Smart Utilities

A bit shallow since the electric industry is hugely pursuing Smart Grid. See Xcel in with its Smart Grid City in Boulder, CO, then check FPL doing the same in Miami, and then I note similar projects under way in the Mid-Atlantic by PHI and DOM. Likewise huge projects underway by SO and SoCal Edison. What is true is that some States are more willing to allow their utilities to upgrade the grid than others and may see the benefits differently depending on their circumstances.

Is Demand Response Doomed?

I don't buy this argument b/c state and federal regulators love demand response, and all the companies listed are also heavily involved in smart grid.

Four European Oil Company ADRs with Dividends Greater than 5%

Oil is not BP's only game, is a major player in U.S. power trading and natural gas.

Biovail: Dividend Cut, Recent Acquisition Positive for Shareholders

(a) management has cleaned/cleaning up the Melnyk problems/scandals and they have made peace, which author addressed the merits of. why mention things that occurred under Melynk that doesn't seem fair to the current management?
(b) the divy cut is positive b/c they ended the issue of it being unsustainable, and one might say now it can grow the divy in a manner that appropriately reflects growth and hopefully maintains a reasonable balance sheet..i do believe the author hit on this point enough.
(c) acquisition = growth, etc., which author also addressed.

frankly this company was a train wreck and it's making a turn around, which the author has emphasized.

but what is concerning to me is the convertible offering, and whether they can now quickly execute some more good news and acquisitions to merit this move.

yes, I am long bvf.

Biovail 'Still Not Getting the Attention It Deserves' - UBS

it's getting murdered today

What's Gotten into Taiwan?

Hen hao! Jia you, jai you!!

Williams Companies: Icahn Snoops Around Again

I'd like to think Carl sees that WMB is not just an E&P company, but rather a pipes and gas company, and that there is value in that model. I think WMB is more like EP than a CHK. That said, when the U.S. economy recovers wouldn't the industrial companies need gas and transportation/deliver... via pipelines? Consider that with the Obama EPA and Steven Chu in the DOE potential regulations might encourage power generation in the U.S. to use natural gas base load generation right along with renewables (wind, solar, biolmass) to support electric cars (which are increasingly viewed as job creation w/bonus of green)...and not b/c of the price of oil, but b/c of carbon issue, and issue of job creation in America. Might not WMB be in the right position for this direction in a way that a mere supplier of natural gas would not?

Plug-In Natural Gas Hybrid Vehicles: A Game Changer

nice idea, but pure electric seems best when considering the carbon constrained world. Utilities that appear really proactive about electric car should include PG&E, Xcel (leader in wind, demand response and smart grid), and DUK. Now that said, this entire concept depends on major grid upgrades, so before this happens Gridwise companies like ABB are the key.

Nuclear Firms Power Up - Barron's

nuclear, love it, but agree with billp37 on the lead times...I also like Rod's suggestions, however, more short term there's a play to be had in the area of "efficiency" whether demand response or smart grid.

Smart Grid Backers Push for Job Growth

Very good article. I strongly believe smart grid is coming...so is the plug-in hybrid, note that Edison Electric Institute and majority of the CEOs of the investor-owned utilities in the U.S are meeting this week and have announced this to be the industry's #1 priority recognizing the reality of a carbon-constrained world, not the temporary price of oil.

Crude Oil Inventories: I Can Tango, Can You?

yet while USO goes down, the Oil stocks go up (e.g., HAL) ???? huh?