EnergyOnline
Services

RSS FEED

EnergyOnline.com rss

News

Natura Resources Announces Agreement with NGL Energy Partners to Develop 100-MW SMRs with Large-Scale Produced Water Treatment in the Permian Basin

LCG, February 4, 2026--Natura Resources LLC (Natura), a developer of advanced molten-salt nuclear reactors, announced yesterday that it has signed an agreement with NGL Water Solutions Permian LLC, a subsidiary of NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL), to pursue opportunities to combine Natura's advanced nuclear reactor technology with thermal desalination for power production and oil and gas produced water treatment. NGL transports, treats, recycles and disposes of more than 3 million barrels per day of produced and flowback water generated from crude oil and natural gas production in the Permian Basin.

Read more

OPG Completes Darlington Nuclear Station Refurbishment Project Under Budget and Ahead of Schedule

LCG, February 2, 2026--Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced today that construction on the four-unit Darlington Refurbishment project is now complete. Station staff are completing final testing, and the last unit is expected to return to service in the coming weeks. OPG stated that the overall project is currently four months ahead of schedule and $150 million under budget.

Read more

Industry News

Fitch Says California's Public Power in Good Shape

LCG, Sept. 8, 2000-California's municipal electric utilities are generally faring well, largely due to their ownership in generating resources and long-term power purchase contracts, Fitch IBCA said yesterday.

While customers of San Diego Gas & Electric Co. have seen substantial electric bill increases, municipal utility customers are enjoying relatively stable electric rates and adequate power supply, the credit rating service noted.

California's electric restructuring law, passed in 1996, exempted public power agencies from most of its provisions, but left them vulnerable to market forces. There was widespread concern that they would not be able to compete in the deregulated market, Fitch observed.

Public power utilities had to develop individual businessstrategies to reduce debt burden and improve rate competitiveness. Unlike their corporate counterparts, municipal utilities retained ownership in generating resources and strove to reduce production costs. By lowering expenses, holding rates stable, and refinancing debt, most public power systems generated considerable cashflow--frequently used to pay down debt on an accelerated basis.

When demand for power outstripped supply this summer, spot market electricity prices soared and, in the case of SDG&E, were passed directly on to consumers. The result has been the imposition of political remedies in the form of price caps.

Paradoxically, to use Fitch's word, the high electricity prices effectively boosted the competitiveness of the municipals'generating facilities, and in cases such as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Northern California Power Agency, provided an opportunity for the sale of surplus power at favorable prices which added to the coffers of these systems.

Not all public power systems are immune to the higher power prices, particularly those withshort-term purchased power exposure. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, for example, purchases approximately 30% of its power supply requirements on a short-term basis. During the early part of summer, SMUD was impacted negatively. However, with improved nonfirm sales and cooler than normal temperatures later in the summer, SMUD considerably offset the increase in purchased power costs.

In addition, Fitch placed Merced Irrigation District on Rating Watch Negative due to the distribution system's short power supply position. Overall though, Fitch says most municipal electric utilities are performing well financially.

Fitch sums up: While the competitive power supply market's growing pains are providing the municipal electric systems additional time to prepare for full retail competition, the current California power market conditions are temporary. Therefore, public power providers need to continue to reduce generating costs--particularly strandable debt- related costs--if they are to be long-term players in theCalifornia power market.

Copyright © 2026 LCG Consulting. All rights reserved. Terms and Copyright
UPLAN-NPM
The Locational Marginal Price Model (LMP) Network Power Model
Uniform Storage Model
A Battery Simulation Model
UPLAN-ACE
Day Ahead and Real Time Market Simulation
UPLAN-G
The Gas Procurement and Competitive Analysis System
PLATO
Database of Plants, Loads, Assets, Transmission...
CAISO CRR Auctions
Monthly Price and Congestion Forecasting Service