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Competitive energy markets continue their evolution within the inherent policy tensions between government regulation and free markets. While markets have gained significant ground, questions about the vulnerability of national energy systems and an over-reliance on fossil fuels have contributed to a re-assessment of the role of government regulation. Many industry leaders recognize that a major energy transition is underway. The complexity of large-scale system change has created crisis in some markets, and volatility and uncertainty in others. The 2006 Bordeaux Energy Colloquium focused on reviewing the evolution of energy markets from a 25 year retrospective to a current update on issues of global supply and demand side options. Panels covered regulatory issues as they cross local, federal and international jurisdictions. Fall 2006 Colloquium members then ventured into an evaluation of critical issues facing the prosperity of today's market. While it was evident there is still much work to be done in the existing paradigm struggle between markets and regulation, the larger 'elephant in the room' appeared to be unknowns on the geopolitical landscape involving access to natural resources, nuclear power and sharing environmental responsibility.
Colloquium sponsors the idea of an Energy Plexus. An Energy Plexus is created through building a global network of leading minds and best practices devoted to finding and replicating the factors of success found in functioning energy markets. Leaders within the industry recognize the need to bring a great deal of pragmatism to the task of managing and changing contexts in an "edge of chaos" environment. Borrowing the image of the "butterfly effect" from chaos theory, small but critical changes at critical times can trigger major transformative effects. Complex policy decisions assume a new and even more powerful dimension, in that as humans, we have the ability to reflect on various contexts and choose the points in which to intervene. In developing this idea further, this year's participants took on the task of searching for 'do-able' high leverage initiatives that can trigger a transition to a global energy future that is cleaner, more secure and more sustainable. Through evaluating policy frameworks, the role of innovation and new technologies, the impact of environmental and natural resource restraints and legal and financial mechanisms - the Fall 2005 Colloquium evaluated options from a "big picture" perspective and attempted to distil their essence into specific actions to be implemented.
The Bordeaux Energy Colloquium was held in Cap Ferret from October 21st - 24th, 2004. The theme of this Colloquium was the stalemate situation of energy deregulation. The participants consisted of a US and EU delegation involved primarily with the policy design, investment and implementation of competitive energy markets. In-depth topics covered " State of the Union of Competition in US Markets", "Policy Design for NYC energy needs", "and The Effect of the US elections of Energy Policy", "The Investment Outlook for Large Scale Generation and Transmission Projects in the US", "Technology Solutions for Transmission Upgrades" The weekend was formatted around four formal dialogues and many informal discussions focused on the following themes:
The Spring 2004 Bordeaux Energy Colloquium was held at the AREVA Summit this year in Las Vegas. The theme of AREVA's summit was on grid infrastructure and investment. The participants consisted of over 100 senior executives from primarily the transmission sector and ranged from utility executives, industry executives, financial investors and energy regulators. The mini-colloquium was held as a kick-off event for the summit and focused around issues of deregulation and its effect on infrastructure development, primarily in the transmission and distribution sector. The group dialogues and survey results were strongly in favor of the new regime of competitive energy markets over the old regime of regulated monopolies. The high degree of uncertainty at the regulatory level was highlighted as the principle cause that is crippling investments in the sector, particularly large infrastructure projects Other key topics included surviving the period of volatility as an inevitable part of the regime change to competitive markets and a new hot topic of Corporate Governance and ensuing rules and regulations that are adding to the mix of uncertain factors.
The theme of Fall 2004 Colloquium was the goals of deregulation, concepts and actions. The participants consisted mainly of a delegation involved with the design and implementation of the California Energy market. Participants ranged from utility executives, industry executives, state senators and assembly people and energy regulators. John Baker, former CEO of National Power in the UK and Michael Peevey, President of the California Public Utility Commission, kicked off the event with a retrospective of the goals and major actions of deregulation in the UK and California energy markets, respectively. The weekend unfolded around three formal dialogues centered on the three "stated" goals of deregulating the electric industry:
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