A European E.ON-slaught

Published By Datamonitor

A fully competitive European energy market may remain a Brussels pipedream

The liberalization of the European energy market has advanced only slowly over the past eight years. One month on from the latest directive deadline, Datamonitor's Salman Wasti reviews how uncertainty over the EU constitutions could create a new barrier to progress...

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A storm is brewing in the East despite temporary gas truce

The January 2006 Russia-Ukraine gas deal has been temporarily extended to the autumn; a temporary truce largely driven by Russia's position as chair of the G8. There are two events on the horizon with potentially serious implications for the reliability of gas supplies to Europe: Yulia Tymoshenko's appointment as Ukrainian prime minister, and Turkmenistan's decision to hike gas prices to Russia.

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A windfall tax on the UK energy industry is unlikely to prove beneficial

Upward pressures on UK wholesale gas and power prices are being driven by strained supply and demand fundamentals. Imposing a windfall tax on the UK energy industry is unlikely to resolve this issue whereas increased incentives for energy investment in UK gas storage facilities would go some way towards achieving that aim.

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AEP/Seeboard: EDF the favorite, but it's a tough field

EDF is clear favorite to acquire the utility, which would give it control of much of the electricity customer base in the affluent south of England. It would also gain the last realistic opportunity to gain customers through acquisition in UK electricity. However, rivals such as Scottish & Southern, RWE and E.ON are likely to put up a serious fight.

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AEP: staying in the UK, albeit with foreign coal

Low wholesale power prices are adversely affecting the UK coal industry; having ruled out further investment, AEP is now searching for other ways to reduce costs. With imported coal cheaper than that from the UK, increasing imports seems inevitable. Although this is bad news for UK coal, it does at least confirm AEP's commitment to stay in the UK power and coal markets.

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Aggreko: success in Germany is a signal of things to come

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Aggreko: World Cup confirms the power of rental

Aggreko continues to impress as a company on the up: its rising share price over the last five years bears testament to the success of the organization. As power demand increases across the world, often in geographically remote locations, concerns over security supply issues remain, and rental power companies look set to stay successful. <BR />

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Alkane Energy: expansion offers wholesale competition prospects

Renewable power specialist Alkane Energy is to expand its capacity from 20MW to 50MW in the UK. Third party generation is critical to competition in the wholesale and retail markets, encouraging the expansion of suppliers which may not necessarily be able to invest in upstream assets.

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Allegations of energy price manipulation: changes afoot?

UK energy prices are a hot political issue and suggestions that the wholesale gas market is being manipulated are only fueling the controversy. The price reporting agencies, which interpret the market, are facing challenges to their entrenched position.

Published By Datamonitor