NRG Expert Data Extraction Service

Part of the many services offered by NRG Expert is data extraction. For those of you unfamiliar with this term, data extraction is what we offer clients who want a specific data set. There are different reasons why someone might seek out this bespoke service. One option might be that they want a particular set of data but don’t wish to purchase the entire report in which it is contained. In this case we would extract only the data that they are looking for and then give this to them in a clear and understandable format.

 

Another reason why our data extraction service comes in handy is that not all of our data can be found within our market research products. Here at NRG Expert we have millions and millions of lines of data, each of which has been expertly acquired from trusted resources through extensive research. A lot of this data is stored in-house and therefore cannot be purchased in a standard report. With our data extraction service, clients can access exactly what they need from our in-house data sets without trawling through millions of data lines themselves.

 

Data extraction is essential for companies who value their time and want expert assistance obtaining exactly the right data sets for marketing and planning purposes. We understand that time is money and therefore endeavour to reply immediately to the enquiries and orders we receive. In our experience, data extraction is a cost effective way of getting what you need to further your energy business.

 

We currently hold data on Electricity, Gas, Water, Petroleum and BioFuel as it relates to each country around the world. Statistics and data within each of these sectors include information on Utility Customers, Emissions, Energy Intensity, CAPEX, Regulators and more. We also have more specific data within each sector such as voltage tables for the Electricity category and information about smart meters in the Water section.

 

Whatever energy related data you are looking for, you can be sure to find within the wealth of data sets stored at NRG Expert. Our data is easy to interpret and can provide companies with the information they need to make important business decisions, including strategic moves and marketing strategies.

 

For more information about our data extraction service, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at info@nrgexpert.com.

NRG Expert’s Research Methodologies

NRG Expert’s Research Methodologies

 

It is one thing to have an excellent collection data at your disposal, but it means a lot more once you understand how it has been acquired. At NRG Expert, we have a range of different methodologies that allow us to obtain data that is as accurate and reliable as possible. Of course, data collection is never a flawless process but our methodologies work to minimise this to the greatest extent.  So let’s take a look at the research methodologies used by NRG Expert.

 

Surveys

 

At NRG Expert we use surveys as one of our key data collection methods. We use open-ended questions to give respondents greater freedom when answering and to stop them from being influenced from pre-existing answers. While these can be harder to compute, we have found they are much better for obtaining accurate data. When conducting surveys, we use sample sizes of over 100 in order to ensure precision.

 

Our surveys come in all shapes and sizes and we often use phone surveys, face-to-face interviews and mail surveys. When we conduct face-to-face interviews we take great care to ensure there is no interviewer bias. In other words, we construct our questions to be as neutral as possible, so the respondent does not feel swayed or pressured into answering in a certain way.

 

Personal Interviews

 

Our personal interviews are a great way for us to dig deep into the energy industry knowledge and experience of the interviewee. This type of research is particularly valuable because we can ask respondents to elaborate their answers further. Unfortunately, personal interviews can also be highly susceptible to interviewer bias. The interviewer might not even realise they are doing it, but the occasional smile or frown in response to the respondent’s answers can subconsciously influence the respondent to answer in a certain way. NRG Expert is aware of this pitfall and we endeavour to eliminate it entirely from our interview processes.

 

Online Research Methods

 

Nowadays, the Internet reigns supreme and when it comes to energy market research there is a lot to be said for the power of online research. Online surveys are incredibly valuable when it comes to acquiring data about the energy industry – particularly because of conditional branching. For example, if a respondent answers yes to a certain question, the next question will be a follow-up to his or her answer. If the respondent answered no, the survey would skip these follow-up questions and go to the next appropriate question.

 

The difficulty with online surveys is the respondent’s tendency to skim through questions. It is very hard to make people read anything of a significant length, like a scenario or product description. Nevertheless, the interviewer bias is much less and people feel more comfortable conducting interviews online than in person.

 

Online search data and the monitoring of a website’s traffic are also useful to analyse. We can see what people are searching for within a firm’s website to see which terms are more popular. We can then use this to see how easily accessible the information they are searching for is.

 

Research Sequence

 

Often we use more than one type of research and when this is the case we will use the most flexible methods first before continuing with a more inflexible method. An example of this would be using personal interviews to gain some preliminary data. Personal interviews are flexible as we can ask follow-up questions and tailor the interview as we see fit. Unfortunately the sample size is usually small so the data is not too reliable. We can then create a questionnaire – much less flexible – based on this data to conduct more research.

 

Cautions

 

Here at NRG Expert we are aware that market research is costly and should only be executed under careful supervision. We are also aware that market research and analysis can be manipulated to fit the need of the customer in some cases. We make sure that all our research is as accurate as possible and without bias and that our projects fully meet the needs of our customers.

 

What is Talking Energy?

Talking Energy is the only publication you need to fuel your interest in the energy industry. Written by a team of professionals at NRG Expert, this free newsletter is jam-packed with useful information about a range of key energy topics. Not only does it provide valuable insight for those looking to learn more about the energy sector, but it is written in a user-friendly way, making it accessible to everyone, even if you don’t have a background in energy.

 

So what exactly will you get from reading Talking Energy? Well, the main purpose of the newsletter is to update its readers about the global energy markets. You can review our data for free with data of the month http://www.nrgexpert.com/data-of-the-month/

In addition to this information, the newsletter often has details of events taking place in the energy world that are bound to be of interest to energy enthusiasts as well as a list of some of the more prominent energy-related headlines from around the world. Not enough? Talking Energy also includes information about energy market share prices – crucial data for anyone looking to invest in the sector. Sectors that are covered within the newsletter include: Power and Infrastructure; Metering & Smart Grid; Utility Guides; Fossil Fuel & Conventional Energy; Renewable Energy; Water & Waste; and Finance & Regulatory.

 

In addition to the wealth of information about news topics and other pertinent energy issues, Readers of Talking Energy will also have the opportunity to learn all about the Global Energy Certification – a valuable qualification for anyone looking to break into the energy sector or hoping to build on their existing set of skills and knowledge. When it comes to making a strong career move, taking a qualification like this one is invaluable.

 

Whether you are a professional in the energy field or are just interested in learning a bit more about the industry, Talking Energy is a fantastic and easy way to get clued up about all things energy. Oh and did we mention it’s completely free?

Energy Expert Witness Service

Energy Expert Witness Service

 

When it comes to energy disputes, nothing strengthens your case like a testimony from an expert. Here at NRG Expert, we provide just that, an expert witness who will work in tandem with your internal litigation or regulatory teams. With plenty of experience appearing before courts of every level in the UK, US, Canada EU and more, you can be sure of a professional attitude and quality output from us at all times.

 

How Can We Help You?

 

Our expert witness service provides a range of resources for those dealing with litigation or arbitration, including independent research, analytical support and expert testimony. Many of the cases we assist with deal with general litigation, securities or regulatory matters. When you choose to work with us, you will receive unbiased, expert insight and assessments that are presented with clarity.

 

In the past NRG Expert has provided valuable advice to help with dispute resolution concerning an array of different topics, such as energy infrastructure, pricing and contract matters. With some of our experts also being lawyers, we have a solid understanding of the complex workings of the legal world, particularly with regards to its application to the energy field. We can help clients build air-tight cases for high-value commercial disputes using our broad range of expertise in energy pricing and market analysis.

 

Typically, we assist clients with proceedings that involves CAPEX & OPEX, market prices, contract terms and conditions – including breach of contract issues and rate cases. For the latter we look closely and assist with the three main regulatory areas: public utility commissions, rate case interveners, and utility management. Insofar as our testimonies are concerned, we have experience providing expert testimony on a myriad of issues. The issues include insolvency and restructuring, valuations, contract litigation, damages, audits, procurement and regulatory proceedings.

 

How Do We Do It?

 

NRG Expert has a huge wealth of resources at its disposal and we endeavour to constantly seek out new and innovative ways to put them to use. Of paramount significance is our energy reports, databases and models that we use to form and back up analyses of energy markets and global pricing. This forms part of the analytical support that we provide our clients. This industry data is also pivotal to helping us provide clients with well-researched expert testimonies based on historical, contemporary and forecasted energy industry information and data.

 

When you choose to work with NRG Expert you are choosing to put your case in the hands of experts who scour their vast library of knowledge and resources to help you build an excellent commercial case. These experts have gained a reputation for the strength of their abilities and are ready to be at your disposal as you navigate the complexities of your energy litigation or arbitration.

The 2003 North American Grid Failure

On August 14, 2003, large portions of the Midwest and Northeast United States and Ontario, Canada, experienced an electric power blackout. The outage affected an area with an estimated 50 million people and 61,800 MW of electric load in the states of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and the Canadian province of Ontario.

The incident started in Northeast Ohio and cascaded to its full extent in At 13:31 EDT, FE’s Eastlake 5 generation unit tripped and shut down automatically. Shortly after 14:14 EDT, the alarm and logging system in FE’s control room failed and was not restored until after the blackout. After 15:05 EDT, some of FE’s 345 kV transmission lines began tripping out because the lines were contacting overgrown trees within the lines’ right of way areas.

A series of line outages in Northeast Ohio starting at 15:05 EDT caused heavy loadings on parallel circuits, leading to the trip and lock-out of FE’s Sammis-Star 345 kV line at 16:05:57 EDT.

The blackout began a few minutes after 16:00 EDT, and power was not restored for four days in some parts of the United States. Parts of Ontario suffered rolling blackouts for more than a week before full power was restored.

Estimates of total costs in the United States range between US$4 billion and US$10 billion. In Canada, gross domestic product was down 0.7% in August, there was a net loss of 18.9 million work hours, and manufacturing shipments in Ontario were down C$2.3 billion.

Between 16:10:36 EDT and 16:13 EDT, thousands of events occurred on the grid, driven by physics and automatic equipment operations. When it was over, much of the Northeastern United States and the province of Ontario were in the dark.

By 16:13 EDT, more than 508 generating units at 265 power plants had been lost, and tens of millions of people in the United States and Canada were without electric power.

The Russian Electrical Supply Industry

Since the dismemberment of the Soviet Union, the Russian electricity system, the largest in the world, was dominated by the Unified Electrical Power System of Russia (RAO-ESS Rossii) or UES. UES was formed in 1992 to privatise the Russian power system. The Russian electricity grid stretches from Siberia to the Gulf of Finland and links 69 regional power systems (Energos), out of the 93 which existed in the former union. This was previously the Unified Power System, which linked nine of the eleven power systems. The system is linked to the systems of ten countries around its borders. UES operated the largest power stations and the dispatch system. There were also 72 energos, which distributed power on a regional basis in addition to generating power. UES owned the following stakes in the Russian power industry:

1 Thermal plants over 1,000 MW

2 Hydro plant over 300 MW

3 R&D

4 Transmission and dispatch

5 Distribution and supply (energos)

 

The energos were largely controlled by regional administrations rather than UES, particularly because the electricity tariffs levied on end users are set by Regional Energy Commissions (RECs). Apart from its energo stakes, UES owns the central dispatch administration (TsDU), the high voltage transmission company Federal Grid Cmpany (FGC), 36 power plants (including nine under construction), R&D institutes and stakes in more than 70 construction, maintenance and service companies. Altogether, UES and its daughter energos control 96% of Russia’s high- and low-voltage grid, as well as 72% of installed generating capacity.

The History of the Electricity Generation Sector

The electrical generating sector came into being in the last two decades of the 19^th century in the industrial countries, with the first small installations of public capacity in the 1890s in the USA, UK and Japan, mainly for street lighting. In those early years and in years before manufactured town gas was a more important energy source in the cities. Electric power grew slowly during the first half of the 20^th century, supplied by a myriad of small local companies mostly operating in towns. The Second World War was to change this and with the explosion of industrial activity that it unleashed, electricity became a major national priority. Many countries nationalised their electricity industries or grouped them into large consolidated utilities. Until then electricity had been generated and distributed locally but now transmission entered the picture. Transmission lines were constructed to transport bulk power at high voltages over long distances from large centralised generating facilities to industrial and population load centres where it was distributed at low voltage.

Global generating capacity rose from approximately 134 GW in 1938, to 213 GW in 1950 after the Second World War, and then to 5,082 GW in 2010. Although the figures were small compared with today, the years of WW 2 and the following period, from 1938 to 1950 were a time of enormous change in the electrical sector in which the seeds of today’s industry were sown. There was heavy destruction to the industry in Europe and Japan in the first half of the 1940s, while in the USA capacity grew from 37.6 GW in 1938 to 50.1 GW in 1945. In the years after the war reconstruction commenced, with global capacity growing to 217 GW by 1950.