BUE News and Events

We are currently consuming earth’s natural resources as if we have an infinite supply. The issue with this- We don’t. With population growth and continuous increase in consumption, we are currently using our natural resources faster than our planet is able to produce them. This decrease in resource availability is a prominent issue that must be recognized, and individuals must take action to make changes in order to live within the earth’s limits. By decreasing global consumption of our resources, we will be able to preserve them for years to come, but what efforts can be taken in order to consume less?

Use less energy- Simple changes such as turning off the lights when you leave a room, exercising outside rather than on a treadmill or elliptical, or unplugging electronics when not in use may dramatically decrease your energy usage, resulting in greater savings and a greener lifestyle.

Use less water- By taking shorter showers and turning off your faucet while brushing your teeth, you can save hundreds of gallons of water a year.

With continual increases in population and a depleting supply of resources, the world’s energy needs are changing, and we must examine all feasible options for energy solutions. Our fossil fuel usage is expected to decrease with the adoption of alternative energy sources, with high hopes of energy independence in our future.

Careful consideration must be given to nuclear energy. Although often associated with a negative connotation, there are various advantages that must be acknowledged when planning for our world’s future energy sources.

BidURenergy has long been a force in the Northeast and recently began exploiting a change in market conditions to help businesses in the Capital Region lower their electricity supply charges. The underlying power pricing conventions in Delmarva Power, PEPCO, Baltimore Gas and Electric have shifted as utilities’ rates continue to rise. Many commercial users currently purchase their electricity supply through the utility, which was the cheapest way to do so for the past few years. The tide has recently turned in D.C. and Maryland as businesses are now able to save substantially over the rising utility default service by choosing a third party supplier. BidURenergy has been at the forefront of the market change and has saved current clients over ~$4 million in the past five months.

In deregulated energy markets like D.C. and Maryland, consumers are able to procure their natural gas and electricity through a third party supplier rather than through the utility company. The energy procurement process can be complex but BUE, an independent company working for its clients and not for any supply company, helps clients navigate the system to obtain the lowest rates on their utility bills. For more information on deregulation visit www.BidURenergy.com, which includes an interactive map displaying all the states in which BUE is licensed to operate and which energy markets (electric and/or gas) are deregulated.

Coal to natural gas (NG) switching is when coal generation plants reduce their output while NG plants increase their output. This generally occurs when NG prices decrease to a point where it is more economically to run the NG plants. Currently, this is happening on a large scale. This is partially due to the price dropping below $2, but currently there is more going on. Preparations have begun for the EPA regulations that will limit coal generation.

These regulations are set to take effect on September 1, 2012. Many generators have plans of decommissioning some of their coal plants and they need to start preparing for replacing the generation. In addition, NG drilling companies are cutting back their production, mostly due to the currently high storage levels and low prices. All three factors are slowly creating a perfect storm. The NG price for June has already increased over 5.9 % the past week, with the 12 month strip up 7.7% over the same period, as of close on May 2, 2012. With the summer coming this, electric demand is expected to increase which will continue to push up the NG prices. Are we coming out of the 10 year low? Time will tell…

Jamie Swanson
BidURenergy, Inc.

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has recently allowed Cheniere Energy’s “Liquefaction Project” to progress by approving the export of liquefied natural gas to world markets. Selling to international markets will increase our nation’s profits, but how will exports affect the domestic prices of natural gas?

With such a plentiful domestic natural gas supply, exports will boost the economy by selling to world markets with elevated prices, and also by creating jobs in the United States to support an increase in production of LNG. The recent approval by FERC has received backlash by environmentalists opposed to the process of natural gas extraction, as well as by domestic natural gas consumers in fear of rising prices due to a decrease in domestic supply. Approximately 15-20% of domestic gas production will be exported, and prices are likely to rise with this decrease.

BUFFALO, NY - At 8:00 AM today, BidURenergy, Inc. (BUE) announced it would be holding a series of educational webinars free to the public. The webinars, targeted at large business owners and executives, will provide detailed information on many energy related hot buttons, current events, and regulatory changes. The series features seasoned energy expert Thomas Johnson presenting a broad range of topics ranging from North America’s energy outlook to the price of "capacity" in Consolidated Edison (a NY utility).

After a short, yet successful two-webinar pilot, the main series will kick off May 17th and will continue indefinitely. The webinars are scheduled every Thursday at 11:00 AM (EST):

• May 17th – "NJ 2012 BGS Auction and the Impact on Utility Rates"
• May 24th – "Duke Moves to PJM - How will this affect your business?"
• May 31st – "PJM Capacity Prices"
• June 7th – "Summary of the EPA’s 2012 Energy Outlook"
• June 14th – "The State of Solar Energy in NJ"
• June 21st - "Marcellus Shale - To Frack or not to Frack?"

Egypt has recently announced that they have terminated their natural gas supply contract with Israel, a decision that will not only affect their energy supply, but will also impact the peaceful agreement between both countries. What are the reasons for the termination of contract?

In 2005, Egypt and Israel signed a 20 year contract for natural gas supply, the same agreement that has recently been revoked after less than six years of the contract. Representatives from Egypt stated that the already corrupt agreement had been a violation of contractual obligations, and that Israel has not paid for the natural gas for over four months. This apparent business decision is said to not be an attack on the country, simply a commercial decision.

Earth Day 2012- Ways You Can Make a Difference

Have you made your pledge for Earth Day 2012? May it be planting a tree, decreasing the temperature in your home, or investing in a reusable mug, every effort makes a difference. This weekend marks the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, and with an increasingly “green” society, participation in Earth Day efforts are expected to increase. The event provides a great opportunity for communities to learn how to not only make a difference on Earth Day, but also to change their lifestyles to help our earth.

Earth day events are taking place throughout the world, and people are participating in local events such as green vehicle fashion shows, Earth Day celebrations, clean ups, family education & fun, planting, live music, and recycled art contests, to name a few.

A few ways to make a difference this Earth Day:

Water conservation- May it be installing a low pressure shower head, saving rainwater, or simply shutting off the faucet while brushing your teeth, even the smallest effort can make the largest impact on our environment.

Composting- Commonly viewed as a time consuming procedure, technology has helped to transform composting a simple process.

Planting a tree- Seeds are usually of little cost to us, and Pottery Barn Kids has decided to give away seeds on Sunday, April 22 to celebrate Earth Day and encourage society to make an effort to help the earth. Click here for more information on Pottery Barn and other retailer’s efforts to increase Earth Day awareness.

Reducing consumption- A popular, simple way to do this is through the use of reusable bags. Retailers Target and Kellogg’s will both be giving away reusable bags to consumers.

Natural Gas storage is currently 60% higher than normal for this time of year. The main reason is due to experiencing one of the warmest winters on record. In March, storage levels hit 2.5 trillion cubic feet; this is the highest March inventory since tracking began in 1994. This causes a problem because maximum capacity is 4.1 trillion cubic feet. It is expected this maximum capacity will be reached by October 2012, which has never happened before. Drilling companies will be forced to shut down production and market pricing will plummet, along with the driller’s profit margins. How each company handles this will be interesting. It is expected that some will file bankruptcy or sell some assets in order to regain some of the lost profit.

“The natural gas storage report for week ending April 6, 2012 was more normal with an injection of 8 bcf, but even if the builds remain normal, maximum capacity could still be reached.

BidURenergy, Inc. (BUE) has recently expanded their supplier platform to 36, introducing Liberty Power, and Exelon. Each supplier has passed exhaustive due diligence testing and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, as is required to be eligible for BUE’s PowerPit auction platform.

“Each company’s competitive pricing structures and customer service were deemed attractive for our platform, as we look for qualities and programs that would best fit our customers’ needs”, said Mark Bookhagen, BUE’s Director of Sales.

Green initiatives also played an important role in the acceptance of the new suppliers. Liberty Power is taking proper measures to minimize fossil fuel consumption by helping their customers take advantage of “Green” energy options, and Exelon has set a voluntary emissions reduction goal with the US Environmental Protection Agency. By 2020, Exelon aims to decrease their carbon footprint by more than 15 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, already attaining 75% of their goal.

There are many ways businesses can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) they release into the earth’s atmosphere, a.k.a. their carbon footprint. Here are 3 strategies to get you started:

1. Planting trees is a simple but vital action since trees do the hard work in absorbing CO2 in the atmosphere. Trees absorb only a percentage of CO2 so the next step is to reduce the actual amount being created.
2. Lighting assessment - For instance, conduct an evaluation of facility lighting to find where efficiency and energy saving changes can be implemented. Installing lighting that uses less electricity and has a longer life span helps decrease carbon emissions. The initial investment in modernizing lighting is usually offset by the cost savings in a few years.
3. Lastly, installing a carbon meter or carbon conversion software can help track, hour by hour, the amount of carbon emitted during production. Knowing what activities produce carbon and how much they produce will provide a focus for where reductions can be made. The more electricity, gas, and fuel used, the more CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere. Therefore, the less we draw on these materials, the lower our carbon footprint.

As gas prices continue to rise, so does our need to alleviate our dependence on oil. There are various new vehicle technologies that need to be considered- specifically, natural gas vehicles. The necessary transition seems so simple, but what do we really know about NGV’s?

Natural gas, a cleaner burning fossil fuel than that of oil, decreases greenhouse gas emissions compared to those of diesel and gasoline. Prices of natural gas are approximately one-third less than gasoline, and savings are predicted to further continue. Consumers have the option to convert their current vehicle’s system to that of a NGV, and if they have a natural gas home, they have the option to install a home refueling system. Not only do they have the chance to qualify for tax credits for a home refueling system, but they may also have an abundance of visits from their neighbors.

Saving money and helping the environment- why are we all not heading to our closest auto dealership to purchase environmentally friendly, money saving, natural gas vehicles?

As NGV technology is so introductory, there are a few issues to consider that may offset the advantages. A few unanswered questions thus far:

Are NGV’s recommended for long trips?

Are fuel savings worth the initial cost of the vehicle?

When looking at Obama’s “All of the above” approach, we are focused on a variety of issues, from the recent gas price spike to an increase in energy efficiency, and everywhere in between. “All of the above”- What does that even include?

In Obama’s recent speech, he aims for a decrease in prices at the pump, energy bill savings, higher energy efficiency, stricter EPA regulations, and going “Green”, all while simultaneously strengthening the US economy. All of the above encompass clean energy, except the fact that in the same approach, Obama is also pushing for an increase in oil and gas drilling to help alleviate these gas prices. Sure, we would all like to be less dependent on the Middle East by producing our own oil, but how does this fit with his so-called “All of the above” idea? The drilling in our country would actually do more harm than good to our supposed “Go Green” clean energy movement.

This policy has strong characteristics of an “eyes-bigger-than-your-stomach” mentality, but how should Congress determine what aspects remain in the policy, and what goes?

Buffalo, NY – March 22, 2012 – With the recent additions of Connecticut, Ohio and Washington D.C., BidURenergy (BUE) now operates as a licensed energy supply consultant in every competitive American arena securing the lowest energy rates for its clients.

In deregulated energy markets, consumers are able to procure their natural gas and electricity through a third party supplier rather than through the utility company. The energy procurement process can be complex but BUE, an independent company working for its clients and not for any supply company, helps clients navigate the system to obtain the lowest rates on their utility bills. For more information on deregulation visit www.BidURenergy.com, which includes an interactive map displaying all the states in which BUE is licensed to operate and which energy markets (electric and/or gas) are deregulated.

Former Buffalo Bills running back and Hall of Famer, Thurman Thomas has joined BidURenergy’s (BUE) ever growing team of energy consultants. The five-time Pro Bowler has chosen to join one of the energy industry’s largest consulting firms.

“I’ve always had a keen interest in energy,” said Thomas in a statement early this week “That’s why I’ve chosen to partner with industry-leader BidURenergy, to work hard to help your business find the energy solutions you need. BidURenergy is focused on saving your organization money through efficiencies and reductions on your business’ energy bills,” commented Thomas.

BidURenergy, Inc. has established its large market share within the energy consulting industry over the past three years through hard work and the leverage of over 10,000 client facilities. BUE is focused on bringing its customers the lowest rates for electricity and natural gas supply, as well as providing various other energy efficiency related programs focused on reducing overall operating expenses.

Natural Gas prices remain at a historical low, which is keeping the electricity market price down in most markets. However, in some markets customers are experiencing an increase in their overall electric supply rate. Why is this happening? Well, there are many price components that make up a supply rate. The two biggest components, excluding taxes, are energy and capacity. Capacity is currently driving the price up. This is a direct result of EPA regulations and the natural gas market being low. First, EPA regulations are causing coal plants to decommission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Even though some of the regulations aren’t in effect yet, generation companies are preparing for when they will be. Second, the low natural gas market is causing generators to ramp up their natural gas generation and decrease other sources. As warm weather approaches, demand will increase and cause electric market prices to rise. Areas with high capacity costs, like New York City, should expect to see significant increases in their rates, especially compared this past winter season. As a result to all the above, longer term supply agreements are becoming more and more attractive. Lock in while the market is low to maximize savings over the complete term.

Coal plants are being shut down as a result of an EPA push for new regulations, such as the Mercury & Toxic Standards (MATS), and as demand for natural gas increases with the decrease in coal supply, prices are on the rise.

As of January 2012, FirstEnergy Corp. decided to close down six of their older coal-fired power plants by September 1, 2012(a mere 6 months from now). Those six soon-to-be retired coal plants have generated 10% of the electricity produced by FirstEnergy in the past 3 years, causing a significant decrease in supply, thus increasing demand for natural gas.

In 2008, President Obama clearly outlined that his plan would result in a spike in electricity price, capping greenhouse gases & requiring plants to retrofit their operations. Such a transition to the plants is an expensive process- but who will pay for it?

Midwest Generation has agreed to close its Fisk Generation Station and its Crawford Generation Station due to pressure from the Chicago Clean Power Coalition. Midwest Generation had planned on lowering emissions or closing the plants within the next six years to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxic Standards released in December 2011. Both power plants were built in the early 1900’s and were not previously regulated under the 1990 Clean Air Act like new power plants have been.

As more coal-fired power plants are closed, electricity generation is becoming more dependent upon natural gas and other clean energies. Natural gas has always been more expensive than coal, although the price has lowered in recent years because of increased supply; however, the price has never gone below that of coal. Energy market trend analysts see the future prices of electricity rising because natural gas is a more expensive fuel. Furthermore, electricity prices become even more correlated to natural gas prices due to the fact that there are fewer competitive resources to generate electricity.

Ok, we get it- gas prices are most definitely NOT our favorite topic at the moment. Personally, spending upwards of $80 per week, I pay more for gas than my car itself. When we go to the pump, and dread the price we are about to pay, do we realize the actual costs involved?

The price per gallon continues to rise, but what other factors affect our cost to use gasoline? Our environment is heavily affected by various byproducts of oil usage, including pollution, climate change, toxins, and oil spills.

The pollution caused by the entire process from the refinery, transportation, & ultimate usage of oil is detrimental to our earth, not to mention our overall health. Pollution & toxins lead to respiratory health issues, hospital fees, time off of work and everywhere in between- I know how much I pay for health insurance, and it is not pretty. What about those that aren’t insured?

We have all seen changes in this year’s climate; what do you think contributes to this change?

March’s weather is expected to have above normal temperatures for most of the U.S. This will continue the mild winter, keeping demand and prices low. Looks like the window of opportunity for maximum savings will remain open for a couple weeks. The question is, how long will this historical low continue for? Time will tell…