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This winter is going to see record power prices for Albertans not on fixed rates. In a graph published yesterday on Twitter, University of Calgary economist Blake Shaffer explains in a great Twitter thread that the futures market currently suggests prices over 24c/kWh for regulated rates.
It’s going to be a very expensive winter no matter what, but Shaffer reminds Albertans than they can still save by fixing to a fixed-price contract.
For more information, you can always check the Alberta Utilities Consumer Advocate or check out charts subscribers Solution 105 for their view on the best fixed-price options available right now. Sign-up for their mailing list to get monthly contract recommendations.
A little personal bragging this week as my new paper with Sara Hastings-Simon, Blake Shaffer, and Tim Weis is out at Energy Policy. In this paper, we look the Renewable Energy Program (REP) introduced under the Notley government, and show how the procurement continues to generate large energy revenues for the government.
We’ll have an open-access version of the paper up shortly, and watch for a new publication through Calgary’s School of Public Policy that updates the results to current values.
One of the graphs I’ve been tracking for a few years now is the evolution of EIA oil demand forecasts. It’s been even more interesting since the pandemic, and this month is no exception.
Once again, demand forecasts have been scaled-back relative to previous forecasts, as the combined lingering effects of the pandemic, the war in Ulraine, and (in-part related) higher prices cut against global consumption.