The New York State Public Services Commission is considering changes requiring that newly constructed and substantially renovated multi-unit residences be directly metered by the utility “unless a petition demonstrates that master metering with sub metering is necessary for on-site co-generation, demand-response programs or  alternative, advanced energy efficiency initiatives.” Having your local utility come and install individual metering for 300 units is a very expensive proposition.

If there is one question on the minds of energy market analysts regarding the price of natural gas, it’s; “how low would prices have to go before shale gas producers start shutting in production”. Thanks to the work of Energy Metro Desk who publishes a bi-weekly news letters on energy markets and polls forecasts on the EIA weekly natural gas storage report, they posted that question. A total of 125 producers and suppliers responded to the question with the average response of $2.20 for NYMEX Henry Hub before they would start shutting in any substantial amount of production.

The US senate has recently rejected a Republican bid to block the EPAs new Cross State Air Pollution Act (CSAPR). The act is an attempt to mitigate sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions which the EPA has deemed to be hazardous to human health. Under the new rules, the EPA will set emission caps for each State beginning in January 2012, and require States to meet these caps either through reduction or by purchasing offset credits on the open market. The energy industry, namely coal and petroleum electric power producers, are the largest emitters of sulfur dioxide (SO₂).

The “Energy Committee” of the New York Building Congress (www.buildingcongress.com) recently published a must read report entitled “Electricity Outlook; Powering New York City Through 2030.” The reports’ analysis points to risk factors in forecasts made by New York’s electric power grid operator New York Independent System Operator commonly known as NYISO.