Edge Insights

09 Apr Supporting Angel Flight Australia

Posted at 08:25h in Edge Insights by Edge Admin

What is Angel Flight Australia? Established in April 2003, Angel Flight Australia is a charity that coordinates non-emergency flights to assist country people to access specialist medical treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them because of vast distance and high travel costs. All flights are free and assist passengers travelling to or from medical facilities almost anywhere in Australia. Who do they help? Anyone who is medically and financially disadvantaged, being families who have been financially devastated by medical bills due to illness, accidents or other chronic conditions. How does Edge support Angel Flight Australia? For nearly two decades, Alex Driscoll, Manager Wholesale Clients and Markets, has been involved in 4WD adventures to show other participants...

09 Apr STAFF PROFILE – Alex Driscoll

Posted at 08:25h in Edge Insights by Edge Admin

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Your title isn’t only what you put on your business card; it is what you do with your position that counts. Name a place you have never been to and would like to visit. Why? Everest. It’s the highest place on earth so would be an amazing achievement to stand on the top. Who or what inspires you? Self-made successful people inspire me, being the likes of Richard Branson, Sid Kidman and Ranulph Fiennes. These people generally take risks to challenge themselves or create any opportunities. What is one of the biggest challenges facing energy customers today? The energy market is constantly changing with new technologies,...

09 Apr STATE OF THE ELECTRICITY MARKET – SUMMER MARKET OVERVIEW

Posted at 08:20h in Edge Insights, Electricity, Energy Markets, News by Alex Driscoll

The electricity spot prices were higher for the Summer period (January - March) compared to the preceding three months. Although demand remained static, prices increased as a result of coal and gas generation setting prices at elevated levels. Average prices increased in all regions from the previous summer, with Queensland increasing the least at 23% and Victoria increasing the most at 62%. Across all regions, prices during the 2019 summer were higher than the 2018 summer and were very high in a historical context for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Looking back across the last 10 summers, 2019 summer prices are at their highest levels in most states. Figure 1: Historical prices...

09 Apr Accessing the STTM: Alternative gas supply

Posted at 08:18h in Edge Insights, Gas, News by Stacey Vacher

For a growing number of large energy consumers, consideration is turning to whether entering standard vanilla retail gas agreements deliver the most effective outcome. For consumers who are located within the bounds of the Sydney, Brisbane or Adelaide Short Term Trading Market (STTM) markets, many may not be aware that there is an alternative way to purchase gas. Below, we consider how the STTM works and what the benefits are of exploring this option. What is the STTM The STTM is essentially a market for the trading of natural gas at a wholesale level at defined hubs between pipelines and distribution systems. The STTM is a day-ahead gas market operated by the...

09 Apr Gas Market Update

Posted at 08:17h in Edge Insights, Gas, News by Nick Clark

Capacity Trading As of 1 March, the new Capacity Trading Platform (CTP) and Day Ahead Auction (DAA) came online. This market arose after the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council agreed to implement the legal and regulatory framework required to give effect to the capacity trading reform package, as recommended by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) as part of its Easter Australian Wholesale Gas Market and Pipelines Framework Review. The reforms apply to the operators of transmission pipelines and compression facilities operating under the contract carriage model (collectively referred to as “transportation services”). The objective of the reforms is to encourage and facilitate trading of unutilised capacity on non-exempt transportation...

08 Apr Register now for Edge Energy Services insight sessions!

Posted at 10:21h in Edge Insights by Stacey Vacher

Register Now Edge Energy Services has released a series of insight sessions to shine a spotlight on a topic relevant to consumers in the Australian energy market. These sessions are designed to inform and educate energy procurement professionals. Edge guarantees: No cost No sales pitch Limited registration - only three sessions per person Currently restricted to 10 participants per session, to encourage discussion and enhance education Meet like-minded industry professionals Leverage over 50 years of energy knowledge and experience Sessions run from 4pm to 6pm, with light refreshments served afterwards Pending interstate interest, some sessions may be based in Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide The first session was held early May and was a great success with those attending getting a clear...

14 Nov STATE OF THE ELECTRICITY MARKET – WINTER MARKET OVERVIEW

Posted at 15:48h in Edge Insights, Electricity, Energy Markets, News by Nick Clark

The electricity spot prices were generally higher for the winter period (June to August) than the preceding three months. The largest contributing factors were higher gas prices and increased demand for most of the regions. This excludes Tasmania where average prices fell from $80.26/MWh in autumn to $47.55/MWh in winter. Demand was still higher in the Tasmanian region, however additional rain meant that many of the hydro plants were running, as opposed to spilling water without generating. This put downwards pressure on the local prices. The lower Tasmanian prices didn’t result in lower prices for the rest of the National Electricity Market (NEM). Across all regions, the prices during the 2018...

14 Nov National Energy Guarantee: it’s over

Posted at 15:47h in Edge Insights, Electricity, Energy Markets, News by Nick Clark

In late 2017, the Energy Security Board (ESB) developed a scheme to provide investment certainty in the electricity market, which would address Australia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. The Coalition had ruled out a carbon tax, other cap-and-trade schemes and virtually any other scheme which had been attempted in the past. This left very few options for the ESB to appropriately address investment certainty in the electricity market. The ESB eventually developed an innovative scheme called the National Energy Guarantee (NEG). The basis of the NEG was essentially a cap-and-trade scheme for environmental certificates and, as a sweetener, it also had a reliability obligation. Essentially, the scheme was linked to contracts...

14 Nov Gas Market Update

Posted at 15:45h in Edge Insights, Gas, News by Nick Clark

Domestic gas prices have increased again as Queensland continues to export most domestic gas overseas in the form of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Outages in early 2018 had limited output from the LNG facilities, however all trains are now available. The increase in total gas extracted on the East Coast of Australia is the largest contributor to the increase in gas prices. Before LNG demand, domestic gas could be extracted from cheap resources. However, as more gas is extracted from Roma, Queensland, the price of extraction has increased, which is then passed onto consumers. With the ability to sell gas overseas, producers are also looking to obtain a similar price domestically...

14 Nov The future is bright for Edge

Posted at 15:42h in Edge Insights by Stacey Vacher

After celebrating ten years in business last year, 2018 has been a year of reflection. As founder and Managing Director, I especially have been reflecting heavily on why the business started, how it has become what it is today and, perhaps most importantly, where the business is headed. One thing I’m very proud of is that the ethos of Edge has been unwavering since inception. Edge was established to deliver value. At the core of every decision we make and everything we do is ensuring large energy users are equipped to achieve superior energy outcomes. Put simply, we do everything possible to provide the tools and means to buy better. They say...