U.S. energy and utility company executives are trying to manage investment needs, while looking for options on growth as well as constructive ways to maintain regulated returns. Across the energy value chain, firms are consolidating to beef up balance sheets and secure sale economies. However, as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear incident and its after-effects demonstrate, unforseen events can complicate the industry’s best-laid plans for growth.

Also:

• View from the Executive Suite
• Energy and Utility Merger Activity is Punctuated by Some Large Deals
• Outlook for Nuclear Post-Fukushima 

Continued low natural gas prices and the promise of a shale gas boom have altered the landscape both for gas and power and their markets. The shale gas boom is spurring pipeline expansion and may move the power generation industry into another major gas “build-out,” although industry veterans continue to be aware of the benefits of fuel diversity.

Also:

• Natural Gas Prices Are Projected to Remain Low Near Term; The Extended Outlook Is Less Predictable
• Shale Gas, Especially Marcellus, Continues to Have Competitive Breakeven Costs
• For New Natural Gas Resources, A Need for New Pipeline Capacity
• Capacity Markets Stir Continued Debate

Utilities continue to be interested in smart grid and smart grid-enabled behind-the-meter products and services. But the scope of the opportunity and whether customers and regulators will embrace it and pay for it —which will drive utility investment decisions—remain open questions.

Also:

• Water: The Next Constrained Resource for Energy
• What of Greenhouse Gas Regulation? The Supreme Court’s Latest

2011 rate case activity will not likely match 2010’s record number of rate case filings.

Also:

• Outlook for Coal-Fired Generation
• Order 745: Seeking Comparability and Uniformity in Compensating Demand Response
• Order 1000: A Big Deal…or Not So Much?

About 48% of rural interstate bridges were built during the early years of the interstate system, from 1961 to 1970. By comparison, almost 60% of interstate pipeline was built before 1970.

Also:

• Transmission Expansion: What’s Expected and How Much Will It Cost?
• Aggregating Demand Response Resources
• Behind-the-Meter Products and Services: New Opportunity or Dot-Com Redux?