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The article focuses on the result of the large-scale deployment of wind or solar energy which is lower electricity prices below the price of fossil fuels at time of high wind or solar output. The limitation of price collapse by using low-price electricity to heat firebrick to high temperatures is mentioned. A chart is presented depicting high capital costs and low operating costs.

The article reports on the challenges of a smart grid system. It examines the identification of large-scale transmission lines and electric power generation locations, including the creation of a negative feedback mechanism. It discusses the dispatch and forecast model used in the sale of electricity in North America that does not have feedback on pricing and demand. It offers information on the monitoring by balancing authorities of the bulk consumption of electric power in the U.S.

The article presents details on energy prices including prices of crude oil, diesel fuel, and electricity.

The article offers informatrion on increase in the prices of electricity for industrial customers and mentions need to improve energy efficiency with electro-hydraulic or electro-mechanical drive.

The author discusses the views of Chuck Jones, chief executive officer (CEO) of diversified energy company FirstEnergy, on early retirement of power plants and discusses the event due to less profits, less demand and typical government policies. Topics discussed include statistics on low demand for electricity between 2000 and 2015, less sales of electricity in the U.S., and less use of power plants with coal-fired capacity.

The article focuses on decreasing energy prices in the U.S. and its impact on the U.S. economy. Topics discussed include decreasing rate of electricity and natural gas since December 2015, two risk issues raised with decreasing energy prices such as market timing and the agreement structure, and dependence of energy procurement on energy professionals.

The article focuses on the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the offering of government subsidies for power plant construction without infringing the authority of federal regulators the distortion of wholesale price of electricity. It mentions that energy companies PPL Corp. and Public Service Enterprise Group challenged the decision of the Maryland Public Service Commission to subsidize the building of gas-fired plant in Charles County, Maryland.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including assessment of prospects in China, decreasing energy prices, and increase in China's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015.

The article offers information on the Dinorwig power station in Snowdonia, Wales. Topics discussed include steep sided valleys in Snowdonia used for hydro-electricity, the generators of the station reversed to pump water back to the upland lake in the area when demand of electricity is low and tariffs are cheap, and the need of using special techniques for excavating caverns and tunnels in the place.

An interview with Edward Kee, vice president of economic consulting for Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (NERA), is presented. When asked regarding the factor for new nuclear power project in the U.S. and abroad, Kee refers to the availability and cost of alternative generation fuels in the country. Kee believes that the profitability of the nuclear project varies on the electricity market prices. He comments on the importance of the Finnish Mankala approach for a new nuclear power plant.

The article contends that nuclear plant profitability is now being threatened by a market metric, the quark spread. Defined as the difference between the wholesale price of electricity generated by nuclear power and the price of fuel used to generate that electricity, the quark spread is considered a proxy for a plant's profitability. Wholesale electricity prices have allegedly dropped, taking quark spreads down with them. Differences among quark spreads and spark and dark spreads are noted.

The article discusses the financial performance of the chemical company Wacker Chemie in 2012 as well as its forecasts for 2013, focusing on the impact of photovoltaic system prices, the global photovoltaic industry, and polysilicon prices. Topics include the company's sales, the impact of electricity prices on the company's performance, and an investigation into the alleged dumping of polysilicon from the European Union.