Briefly

AEP Retail Energy Partners Serving 200 MW of Load
AEP Retail Energy Partners LLC said that it provides electricity and energy-related services to more than 1,000 retail customers in Ohio, representing approximately 200 MW of load, in describing its standing in a motion to intervene in Duke Energy Ohio's market rate offer application. AEP Retail Energy Partners started operations earlier this year, and has indicated it plans to expand outside Ohio (Only in Matters, 11/3).

Advantage IQ Purchases The Loyalton Group
Advantage IQ, Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire broker and energy management firm The Loyalton Group. Terms were not disclosed. The Loyalton Group, with revenues in excess of $7.5 million for the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2010, will become part of Advantage IQ, said Avista Corp., parent of Advantage IQ. The transaction will be funded entirely by Advantage IQ and is expected to be slightly accretive to earnings in 2011. "This acquisition shows further progress in our strategy to expand market share, while continuing to provide clients with a deep bench of expertise to help them manage energy consumption and reduce costs," said Jeff Heggedahl, president and chief executive officer of Advantage IQ. Advantage IQ plans to maintain The Loyalton Group regional offices in Minneapolis, Minn., and Washington, D.C. Loyalton co-founders Michael R. Vaughan and Martin B. Sieh will assume roles on Advantage IQ's senior leadership team.

Brattle Group Forecasts 50,000 MW in Coal Retirements from EPA Regulations
The Brattle Group said yesterday that emerging U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations on air quality and water for coal-fired power plants could result in over 50,000 MW of coal plant retirements and require an investment of up to $180 billion for remaining plants to comply with the likely mandates. Brattle estimated that 40,000 to 55,000 MW of coal capacity (depending on the cost of retrofits) would retire if scrubbers and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) equipment were to be mandated by 2015 for all coal units. Another 11,000 to 12,000 MW could retire if cooling towers are also mandated. Most of the retirements would be merchant plants (47,000 to 56,000 MW, or up to three-quarters of the entire merchant coal fleet), with significantly fewer retirements of regulated coal-fired plants, Brattle said. The retirements would be especially large in the Midwest ISO, ERCOT, and PJM areas, representing up to 72 percent of all coal plants and up to 15 percent of total installed generating capacity. Brattle said that roughly one-third of the retirements will be from power plants that are less than 40 years old and larger than 500 MW. Link to Brattle Study

PUCT Commissioners Do Not Elect to Hear City of Dallas REP Certificate Appeal
No PUCT Commissioner voted to add the City of Dallas' motion for rehearing, concerning the denial of its REP application, to an open meeting agenda (12/7).