ENM Solutions’ Post

'Caveat Energy Investor': Regulatory Concerns in the Energy Industry in Offshore Ireland Goodtime Okara, School of Society and Culture, University of Plymouth https://lnkd.in/ejNip3qM Regulatory compliance in the energy industry is a complex mix that has intricate interactions with stakeholders' engagement and energy security. Therefore, for energy companies to accurately predict the future of an energy project, the issues of licensing, Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), potential interventions by state regulators, and decommissioning must be holistically examined before commencing a project. Thus, this paper critically examined the regulatory concerns in Ireland's energy industry. It explored the approach taken by the Irish regulators to HSE and decommissioning. The paper further juxtaposed between the UK HSE and decommissioning approach and that of Ireland. Considering the recent regulatory interventions in the UKCS, the paper accentuated a similar potential interventionist approach by Ireland's state regulator. Thus, the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) Act 2023 was examined. It also interrogated the ban on oil and gas licenses in Ireland and examined if it affected existing licenses. This section argued that Ireland's current energy security concerns may necessitate a change of heart on the part of the Irish Government. The paper concluded with an advisory note on how energy investors can effectively address the regulatory concerns in the energy industry in offshore Ireland. 

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has made a rule that addresses a gap in the scope of the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) Transmission Ring-Fencing Guidelines which has until now prevented them from addressing the risk of discriminatory conduct associated with the provision of negotiated transmission services.    The final rule seeks to improve the effectiveness of competition in the market for contestable transmission services, to then improve the efficiency of the connection process in the long-term interests of consumers.    The Commission has also reduced the implementation timeframe from twelve to nine months, reflecting stakeholder views about the urgent and critical nature of the issue.   More: https://bit.ly/4aq0RkC

The methodology for the production of domestic energy performance certificates has evolved steadily, each update bringing more refinement to the process and therefore more accuracy to EPCs. The latest iteration, RdSAP 10, due to be introduced early next year, will take a considerable leap forward requiring energy assessors to collect much more detail. This will enable EPCs to reflect the energy performance of each property more accurately than ever before. EPCs provide householders with information about the energy performance of their house or flat and guide them in making informed choices about energy saving measures. They also inform policymakers about the energy performance of building stock. Certain measures may be dependent on a building achieving a specific EPC rating. It follows that refinement of EPC production methodology and greater property-specific accuracy of EPCs is to be welcomed. The downside is that energy assessors will require to spend more time on site, which is likley to impact on fee rates. This summary, put together by Elmhurst Energy's Damien Roberts, outlines what's involved in RdSAP 10. #EPC #energyperformance #RdSAP10

While we're broadly supportive of the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)'s draft determination on improving consideration of demand side factors in the Integrated System Plan (ISP), we assert that it doesn't go far enough to improve the ISP as a whole-of-system analysis. Including more data about demand-side factors, such as the uptake of consumer energy resources (CER), electrification and energy efficiency, will improve the robustness of the ISP. But more is needed to improve on the collection and use of distribution network and low-voltage data, and to better integrate this information into distribution network service provider (DNSP) decision-making and planning processes. 📄 https://loom.ly/Gt11OjY

Via Utility Dive: " MISO, TVA to sell ‘emergency energy’ under proposed agreement: “MISO and TVA have become increasingly focused on the need for additional coordination and planning to better ensure reliability in an emergency,” MISO told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. " #Energy #Utility #Utilities

The cornerstone of an effective energy sector is a politically independent, and sufficiently funded energy regulator. The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) is such a regulator. Why is that so important? Before PREB was a powerful regulator, PREPA, a government owned monopoly, made important business decisions, including how to spend money and how to set electricity rates, based on what the government wanted rather than what customers needed. That did not serve Puerto Rico well. One example of PREB’s role is to determine the costs and benefits of net metering. This program can be an effective way to encourage individual consumers to invest in green energy and therefore require careful study and calibration by an experienced regulator insulated from the political influence that compromises the objective evaluation of the policy. However, the Legislative Assembly passed, and the Governor signed Act 10 of 2024. This law would impair PREB’s independence. Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/ebRamTsb

Thoughtful article on Oil and Gas and the challenges we face today. I encourage you to read the article and, if you would like to know more, please reach out to me, Quinton Crew or Scott Hastie.

Cost management to secure Australia’s energy industry programs isn’t new to the industry, far from it, yet any success companies have at cutting costs will traditionally erode with time. Our research and experiences indicate that only 10 per cent of cost-reduction programs show sustained results after three years. There is no silver bullet to ensure cost reduction programs stick. To make it meaningful, it is critical to connect the cost reduction program to strategy, conduct an upfront diagnostic, and zero in on the critical few areas and initiatives ... Understand more in this analysis; addressing the challenges in the #OilandGas #energy sector in #Australia - https://lnkd.in/dqGn54hS

Power Advisory has published a good overview of the electricity market changes announced by the Alberta government this week, including the very helpful table below that compares the MSA's Enhanced Energy Market (EEM) recommendations and the AESO's Restructured Energy Market (REM) recommendations. My recommendation is to agree on a common name :-) Check out the Power Advisory article in the link below. I've also provided a link to the new Market Power Mitigation Regulation for those interested. Power Advisory overview: https://lnkd.in/gtthXe-n Market Power Mitigation Regulation: https://lnkd.in/g4UhwEjP

Boosting our energy regulatory offering: Marianne Anton joins us on 2 January as an energy regulatory partner in London as part of our increased investment in our #EnergyTransition services for clients ⚡ A former legal advisor at Ofgem, Marianne has experience advising on electricity market reform and has advised on a wider range of matters - including project finance and corporate support, dispute resolution, negotiation of power purchase agreements, renewables subsidies, electricity gas licensing and electricity licence exemptions. Rebecca Armstrong, Partner, says: "Energy regulation is going through transformative change, driven by the accelerating energy transition. With new business models, guidelines and rules emerging, the regulatory landscape surrounding the transition is rapidly shifting. Marianne's deep expertise in regulatory frameworks and understanding of how these changes will be applied will be invaluable to our clients and firm." Marianne adds: “I’m excited to join at such a pivotal time for the energy sector. The regulatory changes underway present both challenges and opportunities for businesses navigating the energy transition. I look forward to helping our clients adapt to these shifts, seize new opportunities, and contribute to building a more sustainable future.” We look forward to working with you Marianne 🎉