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From my files: Mistakes By John C Maxwell

From my files: Mistakes

Tell most people that you work for a trade association, like DSA, and you’ll likely get a blank stare. After more than 15 years working for associations (nearly 13 of them with DSA), I’m used to it – and it’s OK, because what really matters

What Does DSA Do Anyway?

Players in the Texas Electricity Market

(This post is a transcript of a 43 page slideshow). I found the information to be very useful

1. The Players in Texas Electricity Understanding the Important Players in Texas Energy and their Role and Influence in the Electricity Market

2. So It Begins ... Understanding the Texas electricity market as a direct result of deregulation and the introduction of competition is a daunting task. Just ask any of your fellow Texans what exactly is deregulation and you’ll likely be met with a blank stare.

3. Why Educate? Granted, not all Texans live in areas of the state where choosing an electricity provider is an option, but regardless, understanding the working pieces that drive Texas electricity will make all of us more informed energy consumers.

4. What is Vital Information? The Public Utility Commission of Texas and its role in protecting your electricity rights, in addition to specific responsibilities and regulations therein. The role of the Retail Electric Provider (REP). Transmission and distribution of electricity and its relationship to the power generators, REPs and the consumer.

5. Continued … Power generators and their role in producing electricity and placing it on the grid. The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas and its role in the management of Texas electricity.

6. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) Regulating Texas Utilities and Telecommunications

7. What is the PUCT? A local state agency responsible for the regulation of electric and telecommunications services. Primary Mission: Ensure consumer protections are in place, foster healthy competition and promote high quality and safe energy and telecommunication infrastructures.

8. File Under: Did You Know? In addition to operating a consumer information hot line, The PUCT also regulates rates and services of all investor-owned electric and local telephone companies, sets and maintains ongoing standards of service for regulated electric companies, and issues statewide franchises for cable TV and video services.

9. The PUCT Regulates: Long distance Wireless telecommunications service Gas Water Cable TV rates and content Rates established by municipal electric utilities Rates established by electric cooperatives Internet ISDN

10. PUCT and Texas Electricity The PUCT is quite simply a consumer advocate for choice in the Texas electricity market. The PUCT is primarily responsible for regulating rates and terms of service for both transmission and distribution in Texas’ deregulated areas, oversight of the ERCOT market, managing renewable energy resources and ensuring consumer protections for retail electric service.

11. What the PUCT Does Not Do! Does not endorse particular electricity providers over another, which helps to foster competition and protect consumer rights that would not survive otherwise.

12. The PUCT and Texas Electric Choice The PUCT operates the Texas Electric Choice Web site that is devoted to providing information for consumers looking to switch electricity providers.

13. Power to Choose PUCT Web site: The basics of deregulation and the retail market in Texas. General information about the PUCT and a link to their site. The process of switching electricity providers

14. And … Questions to ask potential electricity providers. Understanding the choices consumers have when comparing providers. Offer information from Texas Retail Electric Providers (REPs).

15. Retail Electricity Provider The Texas REP has the closest relationship with the customer, a.k.a. YOU

16. What is an REP? The REP handles the customer relationship: Provides you with the billing and customer service aspects of your electricity service. Facilitates turn on and turn off service with your local transmission company. Competes for your business by offering a variety of rate plans, incentives and specials for new customers, renewable energy options and more.

17. Life Cycle: REP to Customer Customers call up an REP (EX: Bounce Energy, TXU, Reliant) and place an order for electricity service. The REP is then responsible for logging that order with the local TDSP (Transmission/Distribution Service Provider). This is done through the neutral third party – ERCOT, ensuring that electricity service will be turned on and ready at the specified date on the order.

18. Continued … Service is turned on, so it is now the responsibility of the REP to monitor and bill a customer for their electricity usage and any additional fees associated with their service. It is also the REP’s role to field any calls regarding customer dispute and work to find the most satisfactory resolution possible.

19. What Makes an REP Unique? Service: Competition - Companies work harder to bring value to their customers in order to retain and attract new business. + Value - Lower prices, better incentives to sign up for new service & versatile energy plans. =

20. Directly benefits the Texas energy consumer by offering the power to shop and choose a provider based on value!

21. The TDSP in Texas Your Local Transmission and Distribution Company

22. Before … Electric companies provided full scale electricity service, which included maintenance of the electricity infrastructure and getting electricity from the plants to the customers, from start to finish.

23. After … The introduction of deregulation and competition paved the way for the TDSP and REPs to each handle different responsibilities, namely the billing and customer service versus the transmission and distribution of electricity.

24. Role of the TDSP Maintains the infrastructure for electricity transmission or distribution. Repair transmission lines during a power outage. Middle man between power generators and REP, ensuring electricity that is generated is safely and reliably transmitted to Texas homes and businesses.

25. TDSPs You May Recognize Centerpoint (split from Reliant) Oncor (Splint from TXU) Texas New Mexico Power Company AEP North AEP Central

26. Texas Power Generators The source that feeds the Texas electricity market.

27. Why Texas? Texas not only provides a quarter of the nation’s refining capacity with nearly 5 million barrels of oil processed per day, but also accounts for a quarter of total natural gas production as the nation’s leading producer. Needless to say … there are more than just a few large-scale, essential power generation companies in Texas.

28. What is a Texas Power Generator? Power generators or power generation companies use natural gas, coal, wind, nuclear, biomass and hydro to produce the power that Texas businesses, residents and commercial facilities count on.

29. Continued … Power generation companies own and operate the power plants responsible for producing energy sold on the wholesale market to Retail Electric Providers in Texas, who of course turn around and package it for the consumer.

30. Major Texas Power Generators Here is a brief overview of the major power generators in Texas who help drive the market by providing the nearly 62,000 megawatt hours per day that Texans consume.

31. Luminant A subsidiary of Energy Future Holdings (EFH), formerly TXU Corp. Generates more than 16,100 megawatts (MW) of energy in Texas, including 2,300 MW of nuclear and 5,800 MW of capacity generated from coal. Luminant also happens to be the largest purchaser of clean electricity generated from wind in Texas and fifth largest in the United States.

32. NRG Energy, Inc. Founded in 1989, NRG currently has a capacity of more than 24,000 MW across the globe, including nearly 11,000 MW in Texas. NRG also has full or part ownership in 44 power generation plants.

33. Suez Energy Suez Energy Generation is located in the heart of energy land in Houston, Texas. Suez owns and operates 72 power, cogeneration, steam, and chilled-water facilities, with a total power capacity of more than 7,750 MW. Suez power generation facilities use various fuels to produce electricity, including renewable resources.

34. Shell Providing the world’s first commercial gas liquification plant in 1964, Shell is one of the largest energy producers in the world Shell is active in everything from gas-to-liquids, wind and solar energy to coal gasification technology Shell is also heavily involved in building and operating natural gas pipelines, and developing wind and solar technology.

35. Electricity Co-Op There are also dozens of local electricity co-ops that provide service to rural parts of Texas. Many of these co-ops fall under Touchstone Energy, a nationwide alliance of 680 local electricity cooperatives located in 80% of the nation’s counties that serve more than 40 million members.

36. Continued … An electricity co-op is owned by the members it serves, with Touchstone co-ops providing electricity service to 75% of the country, including more than 40 co-ops in the state of Texas.

37. The Role of ERCOT in Texas The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas

38. What is ERCOT? The Electricity Council of Texas (ERCOT) is a nonprofit corporation entity under NERC/FERC, which manages the flow of electricity and power to over 22 million Texas electricity consumers, a large portion of the State’s deregulated markets.

39. What Role does ERCOT play in Texas Electricity Market? ERCOT schedules power to an electric grid that covers over 38,000 miles of Texas Electricity Transmission, equivalent to 85% of the state’s electric load. Manages 75% of the deregulated electricity market in the state. Oversees financial settlements for the wholesale bulk-power market in Texas as well as customer switching for more than 6.5 million Texans in deregulated areas.

40. Ensuring Reliable Service ERCOT performs this role by constantly monitoring and analyzing all power grid components every 2-4 seconds for status updates. ERCOT also directs the flow of electricity in conjunction with the local Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) so every Texan can have safe and reliable energy.

41. ERCOT and the PUCT ERCOT is overseen and regulated by The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). The PUCT aids ERCOT in performing its role in the Texas electricity market by helping manage the power grid and ensuring that market rules are in place to protect consumers.

42. The Texas Electricity Market in 2009 Deregulation provides not only unique benefits to the Texas electricity consumer, but also unique structural and logistical needs in order to ensure that electricity service across the state remains safe and reliable.

43. Moving Forward … Moving forward in 2009 and beyond, the continued growth of deregulation in the Texas electricity market only serves to increase competition and foster more opportunity for affordable and reliable electric service.

#shell #txu #PUCT #co-op #TDSP

ELECTRICITY BASICS

The Competitive Electricity Market

In the past, one company provided all parts of your electricity service (generation,transmission and distribution, and retail sales). With competition, these parts are separated into different companies.

Retail Electric Providers (REPs) / Electric Companies

With electric competition, Retail Electric Providers (REPs) sell electricity to you and handle customer service and billing. REPs compete for your business by offering a variety of different pricing options, renewable energy options, added customer service benefits, or other incentives.

Note: Not all areas of the state are open to competition. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) has delayed retail competition for customers of Entergy Gulf States, Southwestern Public Service Company, El Paso Electric Company, and AEP SWEPCO because the PUC has determined that there is not adequate competition in the wholesale electricity market for retail competition to work successfully in these areas. Electric cooperatives and city-owned utilities may decide whether their customers will have a choice of REPs. Customers in these areas should contact their electric cooperative or city utility for more information.

Smart Meters

Many Texans have, or soon will have a digital Smart Meter. These new electric meters offer advancements in the way we manage electricity use and offer many benefits over the current mechanical meters. Learn more.

Power Generation Companies

Power generation companies own and operate power plants, including plants fueled by coal, nuclear power, natural gas, wind, water, solar power, or other renewable sources. Power generation companies sell this power at wholesale to REPs, who package the power with transmission and delivery service for sale to retail customers. REPs are not permitted under Texas law to own power plants; however, they can be affiliated with a power generation company.

Transmission and Distribution of Electricity

Regardless of which Retail Electric Provider you choose, the actual delivery of the electricity ("transmission and distribution") is still provided by your local Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP). Your TDSP will continue to be responsible for maintaining the poles, wires, and meter that deliver and measure the electricity consumed by your home or business, for reading your meter and providing the amount of electricity that you consume to your REP, and for restoring service when there is a power outage.

Your choice of REP does not affect the reliability of your transmission and distribution service or how quickly your power will be restored following an outage caused by a storm or other event. The PUC continues to regulate TDSPs by setting the rates for transmission and distribution service, setting reliability and safety standards, and ensuring that all customers and REPs are treated the same when it comes to the delivery of electricity to your home or business.

Repairs and Emergencies

If you experience an emergency related to your electricity service or a power outage, call the number printed on your electric bill for repairs and emergencies. The local TDSP will repair your service or restore your power, just as they will your neighbors' service, regardless of your Retail Electric Provider. There is no special treatment or priority in service restoration for customers of any particular Retail Electric Provider.

Dallas-Based Energy Future Holdings, Texas's Biggest Power Generator, Had a Rough Year

By Brantley Hargrove Wed., Feb. 22 2012 at 8:09 AM

Energy Future Holdings' end-o'-year popped up on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website late Tuesday, and, boy, is it ugly. Now, why should you care? Because Energy Future is the parent company of Luminant, Texas's biggest generator of electricity. And TXU Energy, a huge retail supplier. And Oncor, the power line company.

Like every other generator of wholesale electricity, the last few years have been tough. The shale boom drove natural gas prices into the basement. And since natural gas-fired power plants set the marginal electricity price for most of Texas, the margin between the cost of generating power and the price it sells for is razor thin.

Throw in Energy Future's prodigious debt -- the result of the highly leveraged purchase of TXU by private equity barons Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Goldman Sachs -- and you have a company throwing a huge slice of its shrinking profits at fat interest payments. Like, as much as 60 cents of every dollar.

Gleaned from the company's 10-k, here are a few reasons why 2011 was the year of hemorrhaging for this Dallas-based power company:

Why Bother?: During certain periods in 2011, they shut down power plant units because the wholesale price of electricity was actually less than the cost of making it.

Underwater: The holding company for Energy Future's Luminant has outstanding debts that currently exceed its value.

Less Money, Mo' Problems: Revenues were down to $7.04 billion from $8.235 billion.

Sucks For Them: Investors' held stock is now worth negative $7.8 billion.

That's The Free Market!: TXU Energy, the retail provider, lost 9 percent of its customers in 2011. Each percent is worth roughly $35 million.

Performance Pay?: Don't worry about the guys running the ship. Despite all the red in this 10-K, they're still in the green. Energy Future CEO John Young's total compensation was $15.124 million in 2011, up from $6.862 million in 2010. Luminant CEO David Campbell was paid $1.766 million in 2010. In 2011, he received $7.667 million.

EFH posts loss of $1.9 billion for 2011

BY JACK Z. SMITH

[email protected]

Energy Future Holdings Corp., the beleaguered Dallas-based electric utility, said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Tuesday that it suffered a net loss of $1.9 billion in 2011, on the heels of an even-bigger $2.8 billion loss a year earlier.

EFH said its revenue fell 15 percent, to $7.04 billion, based on preliminary, unaudited numbers.

Analysts say the financial outlook for EFH -- parent of retail electric provider TXU Energy, power generator Luminant and transmission company Oncor Electric Delivery -- is increasingly grim.

The company is suffering from staggering debt, depressed natural gas prices and a defection of electric customers to competitors with lower rates.

Jim Hempstead, a senior vice president with Moody's Investors Service, said that EFH is facing "a tough set of fundamental market factors that are beyond management's control," including low natural gas and power prices that translate to declining revenue and reduced ability to pay down debt.

EFH debt totals $41.7 billion, including Oncor debt of $5.9 billion, company spokesman Allan Koenig said.

EFH amassed its debt in the $45 billion leveraged buyout of the former TXU Corp. in 2007 led by KKR & Co. L.P. and TPG.

Hempstead said Moody's views 2014 as a "critical year" for EFH, based on increasing concerns about liquidity and debt maturities.

"We think there will be more debt restructuring activity in the near term and we say that because we don't see them having a lot of financial flexibility," Hempstead said.

He said EFH potentially could sell Energy Future Intermediate Holdings, which owns the Oncor Holdings unit that owns 80 percent of profitable Oncor Electric. That could serve as a catalyst for more substantial debt restructuring, Hempstead said.

"Going into bankruptcy, of course, is a possibility," he said. But EFH would likely seek to avoid such a measure "as long as they can manage it," he said.

The state's highly competitive deregulated market, now 10 years old, has stripped TXU Energy of many customers, said Bernard Weinstein, associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. "More people are doing comparative shopping when it comes to electricity," he said. EFH "can't lose $2 billion a year forever," Weinstein said.

Koenig stressed that EFH has "reworked our capital structure to extend our debt maturities," with about $6.5 billion (including Oncor debt) due through 2014.

"Greater than 50 percent of our debt maturities are post-September 2017," he said.

Koenig said EFH has "a very successful program to hedge against low gas prices -- in fact, we are almost 100 percent hedged against low gas prices in 2012."

Asked about the likelihood of EFH filing for bankruptcy protection, Koenig responded, "It's far too premature to speculate about anything like that."

Jack Z. Smith, 817-390-7724

Twitter: @startelegram

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/31/3701930/efh-posts-loss-of-19-billion-for.html?storylink=addthis#.Tyq4e7A0sGk.twitter#storylink=cpy

#TXU

Texas Electricity Deregulation Facts

The deregulation of the Texas electricity market allows companies other than your local utility compete for your business. Here's what you need to know about electricity deregulation:

Electricity deregulation in Texas became official on January 1, 2002.

Under deregulation, you can opt to purchase your electricity service from a Retail Electricity Provider (REP) that sources your electricity and sends you your bill.

If you choose a new provider, your power is still transferred over the same power lines from the local utility. All that really changes is your electricity rate, your customer service and your bill.

Deregulation is under affect in most areas of Texas, but there are still some pockets that do not have the power to choose their own providers yet.

REPs compete on price, service and the ability to provide alternative services such as renewable energy.

Texas deregulation promotes competition among REPs, which in turn, spurs competitive pricing.

Since the introduction of deregulated electricity in Texas, many new providers have entered the market, giving you many options.

The Texas Public Utilities Commission continues to monitor and regulate the delivery of electricity to ensure all consumers are protected.

Many REPs offer promotions and loyalty plans that can help you save even more on your electricity bill.

There are providers that offer 100% renewable energy products that can help you reduce your carbon footprint while you save.

Improvements to New York and Nicor 1% Savings Plans

We are making process improvements to the New York and Nicor 1% Savings Guarantee programs which will require Customers to renew their plan prior to their 12-month anniversary in order to continue to receive the 1% Savings Guarantee. All current Ambit Customers enrolled on the 1% Savings Guarantee Plan will receive a renewal notice from Ambit Energy via mail prior to their annual anniversary date to remind them to renew.

Starting in March, PowerZone Customer Reports will feature every Customer’s renewal date. Additionally, to help you to identify Customers who are up for renewal, we’re adding a Customer Anniversary Date Notification in PowerZone for all Consultants. To activate this notification:

Select the “Alerts” tab and click on “Guaranteed Savings Plan – 45 days” from the drop down menu

Set the “Delivery Type” to “email” or “text message”. You will begin receiving notices when your Customers under this plan are up for renewal (also available starting in March)

These improvements will allow Ambit to more accurately track and manage the 1% Savings Guarantee program for your Customers, and we appreciate in advance your help in getting the message out to your personal Customers. If you have any questions, please call Consultant Support at (877) 302-6248, Monday — Friday, 8:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. CT.

Jere Thompson Jr. of Ambit Energy on how he rose to the top of the 2010 Inc. 500.

As told to Darren Dahl | Sep 1, 2010

Not So Fast Jere Thompson Jr. says his company could have grown even more rapidly.

Ambit Energy Earns "Top 5 Electric Provider" Honors in Texas

DALLAS, Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, Ambit Energy was named a "top five electric provider in Texas" based on a recent customer satisfaction survey by J.D. Power and Associates. The survey considered the responses of 8,100 Texas residential customers about their overall satisfaction with their electricity provider, increasing Ambit Energy's overall customer satisfaction index by 26 points from 2010.

The 2011 Texas Residential Retail Electric Provider Customer Satisfaction Study™, now in its fourth year, measures customer satisfaction with retail electric utility providers in Texas by considering four key factors: price; billing and payment; communications; and customer service.

Ambit Energy earned top rankings in the categories of communications performance, retailer loyalty and enrollment:

Ranked first in communications when customers were asked about satisfaction in communicating changes, new offers/promotions and using attention-grabbing messaging.

Ranked first in number of positive recommendations to friends, family and coworkers about customer's current energy provider.

Ranked first in positive percentage growth, with most respondents switching providers to Ambit Energy in the past 12 months.

"We are proud that Ambit Energy has been named a top electric service provider in Texas for the second year in a row," said Jere Thompson Jr., Ambit Energy co-founder and CEO. "With our competitive energy rates and attractive customer rewards, our focus on customer satisfaction is essential to Ambit being the finest and most-respected energy company in America."

Since 2006, Ambit Energy has continued to grow in both customer size and market presence. Ambit recently reported reaching the 600,000 customer milestone in the third quarter of 2011. The company has expanded service to five new markets in the past year, with plans to expand to several more before the end of 2011.

About Ambit Energy

Ambit Energy is a Dallas-based retail energy provider of electricity and natural gas services in deregulated markets across the U.S., including regions of Texas, Illinois, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Ambit Energy was named the fastest-growing private company in America for 2010 by Inc. magazine. Focused on being the finest and most-respected energy provider in the industry, Ambit Energy offers smart, cost-effective choices for today's energy consumer. For more information on Ambit Energy service or to join the Ambit Energy team, visit http://www.AmbitEnergy.com or call (877) 28-AMBIT.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

SOURCE Ambit Energy

Six Benefits of Energy Deregulation

Here are six benefits of Energy Deregulation to name a few:

1. Energy deregulation creates a level playing field for future industry rivalry and competition by ensuring that all companies have an equal chance to provide service to electricity consumers. Basically deregulation means that the consumer, not the provider, will now call the shots in the electricity market.

2. Energy deregulation lowers prices for residential consumers by empowering them to choose their electricity supplier. What if your only soda option was Pepsi? If Pepsi is your thing then you’d be happy, but if you’re a fan of Coke or Dr. Pepper, you wouldn’t be happy with Pepsi as your only option would you?

3. Energy deregulation equalizes unjustifiable regional differences in electricity prices. While the average price of electricity in the U.S. is about 7 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), it varies widely from state-to-state. This range is from about 5 cents to 10 cents per kWh. Deregulatory initiatives that are underway in many states foreshadow the benefits under nationwide deregulation.

4. Energy deregulation increases jobs and benefits local communities. Unfortunately many large utility companies that have a monopoly in their market do not want consumers to have the ability to choose alternative providers. These companies have used scare tactics, intense lobbying and outright deception to convince many local communities that deregulation will hurt them.

5. Energy deregulation benefits the environment by empowering electricity consumers to be smarter, more demanding shoppers. This means that power companies will be held to higher standards of efficiency and cleanliness. This will ensure that your community is provided with the power they want without increased pollution.

6. Energy deregulation increases service reliability. Under the regulated monopoly model, consumers cannot change to a new provider when their current provider proves unreliable. Under competitive conditions, failure in service will be met with consumer rebellion and subsequently loss of profit, which then strengthens the incentive to maintain higher standards of service. Just as deregulation and competition in other industries have resulted in improved safety and reliability, energy markets will benefit when liberalization occurs.

#deregulation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Electricity deregulation in Texas was the result of the coming into force of Texas Senate Bill 7 on January 1, 2002. According to the law, deregulation is to be phased in over several years.

As a result, most Texas power consumers (those served by a company not owned by a municipality or a utility cooperative) can choose their electricity service from a variety of "retail electric providers" (REPs), including the incumbent utility (usually a subsidiary thereof). The incumbent utility in the area still owns and maintains the local power lines (and is the company to call in the event of a power outage) and is not subject to deregulation. Customers served by cooperatives or municipal utilities can choose an alternate REP only if the utility has "opted in" to deregulation; to date, only the area served by the Nueces Electric Cooperative has chosen to opt in.

Since 2002, approximately 85% of commercial and industrial consumers have switched power providers at least once. Approximately 40% of residential consumers in deregulated areas have switched from the former incumbent provider to a competitive REP. REPs providing service in the state include Glacial Energy, TXU Energy, Kinetic Energy, Reliant Energy, Dynowatt, Texas Power, Ambit Energy , Bounce Energy, MXenergy, Direct Energy, Stream Energy, First Texas Energy Corporation, Gexa Energy, Cirro Energy StarTex Power and Tech Electricity.

#deregulation

Piotr and Voitek Come to America. This video was shown during Powertrip November 2011 at the Ambit North Texas Training Center. Great job Piotr and Voitek. Love the Don Johnson outfit. Wish Voitek could have looked more like Tubbs from Miami Vice.

#piotr luda #Voitek Liczkowski #ambit energy

I like this video by Pete Maugans introducing people to Ambit Energy. There are so many videos that introduce people to Ambit Energy. I just want to organize them all and try to know which ones work best to show to people.

#ambit energy intro video

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