Marketwise to get an extreme makeover!
At Direct Energy we are all about simple, friendly, direct. Simply the best source for information on how to manage your energy budget, delivered in a friendly manner, direct to your desktop. As a result, we've determined that our weekly Marketwise newsletter needs an update, an extreme makeover in today's television vernacular. But we need your help. So watch for an upcoming on-line survey to help us determine what types of energy information provides the most value to you our customers and clients.

Thanks for putting your trust in our energy.

Your friends at Direct Energy.

Early morning natural gas futures prices are up $0.058/MMBtu (January 2008 is trading at $7.510/MMBtu).
Early morning crude oil futures prices are down $1.69/Bbl (January 2008 is trading at $89.32/barrel).

My opinion:
In Thursday's session the January 2008 NYMEX light sweet crude contract failed to hold on to the big gains of its early morning rally and ended the day up only 39 cents to close at $91.01 per barrel. Earlier in the day, the January contract was all the way up to $95.17.

Colder weather is forecast to move into the Northeast for next week, but that news was not enough to overcome storage levels that continue to sit above last year's levels.

Bob Cables, Market Intelligence, Direct Energy

source: New York Mercantile Exchange

The January 2008 NYMEX gas contract started its prompt-month run on a quiet note, closing down 3.4 cents on the day. The EIA reported a storage withdrawal of 12 Bcf for the week ending Nov 23, keeping storage above last year's level.

The 10-day forecast has lots of swings as Columbus sees a high of 52 on Sunday but only the mid 30s by mid-week. Boston gets a week that is close to 25% colder than normal with highs mostly in the low 30s, while Baltimore will be 15% colder than normal with highs in the low to mid-40s.

Note: The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price, in dollars per barrel, is converted to $/MMBtu using a conversion factor of 5.80 MMBtu per barrel. The dates marked by vertical lines are the NYMEX near-month contract settlement dates. Source: Natural gas prices, NGI's daily gas price index (intelligencepress.com). WTI price Reuters News and Service utility (reuters.com).

Consumption. Cooling degree-days this summer were 12 percent higher than normal (U.S. Summer Cooling Degree-Days http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/gifs/Fig23.gif) and slightly higher than last summer. Summer residential electricity consumption this year was 1.5 percent higher than it was in the summer of 2006. For the entire year of 2007, total consumption is expected to grow about 2.4 percent, primarily due to a surge in electricity consumption in the first quarter

U.S. Total Electricity Consumption
(http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/gifs/Fig20.gif.) Growth in 2008 is expected to slow to 0.7 percent due to an assumed return to near-normal summer temperatures and slightly slower growth in economic activity.
source: EIA

U.S. residential electricity prices are expected to grow by 2.2 percent this year and 2.3 percent in 2008, much lower than the growth rates experienced during 2006 (U.S. Residential Electricity Prices http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/gifs/Fig21.gif)

Most of this increase is a result of increases in the fuel costs faced by electric power generators. Industrial electricity prices are expected to grow by 4.8 percent in 2007 and by 1.7 percent in 2008.
source: EIA

*The views and opinions of the author of this statement are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of Direct Energy. The information provided in this section may represent opinion or judgment and is for informational purposes only. Direct Energy does not warrant the accuracy, correctness, reliability, comprehensiveness, or currency of the information provided by the author.

This communication is for informational purposes only. All information is provided "as is" and not intended for trading purposes or advice. Direct Energy makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the quality, accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information provided in this newsletter. Further, Direct Energy is not liable for any informational errors or incompleteness or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein.

Subscription Information
You have received this email because you subscribed with Direct Energy and agreed to receive e-mail.
If you received this message in error or wish to be removed from this mailing list please click on this
unsubscribe email link

© 2004 - 2006 Direct Energy Marketing Limited, a subsidiary of Centrica plc.
Direct Energy and the Lightning Bolt design are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Direct Energy Marketing Limited in the United States and/or Canada. Use of such trademarks has been licensed by Direct Energy Marketing Limited to its various subsidiaries and affiliates. Direct Energy, LP (PUCT License No. 10040).
Products and services vary depending on region or market.
Canada Privacy Policy, Disclaimer | USA Privacy Policy, Terms Of Use | Global Sitemap