Success Stories
Real problems. Real solutions.
Our clients have been using AURORAxmp in powerful and innovative ways for years. Here are a few real examples that highlight why AURORAxmp was the perfect tool for each client's situation. Many are presentations from our annual Electric Market Forecasting Conference.
Exelon Generation
Exelon Generation has one of the largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity in the United States, and is the largest owner/operator of nuclear plants in the country. Exelon delivers electricity in northern Illinois via ComEd and southeastern Pennsylvania via PECO. In 2009, Exelon’s Power Team underwent a major model calibration effort. Market analysts Derek Salvino and Chris Handwerk presented on that effort and the results of that effort at Exelon. With careful incorporation of historical data and appropriate model assumptions, they were able to perform a very accurate backcast with AURORAxmp and help the company gain confidence in the team’s forecasting ability going forward with the use of the model. AURORAxmp’s speed, transparency and data import flexibility enabled Exelon to successfully accomplish this goal in a reasonable time frame. This presentation contains insights and helpful recommendations to anyone seeking to improve their modeling accuracy.
Avista Utilities
Avista Utilities, a regional utility and power provider with a diverse generation portfolio, had regulatory requirements to produce Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs). Avista also wanted to improve their modeling and to take the IRP process as an opportunity to enhance their long-term planning. After comparing competing products, Avista went with AURORAxmp, based on its user-friendliness, capabilities, and ease of interoperation with existing SQL and Oracle databases.
Using AURORAxmp, Avista exceeded regulatory expectations on their IRP, produced superior internal models for better strategic planning and price forecasting, and forged stronger relationships with regulators.
Northwest Power and Conservation Council
How sensitive is the Northwest power grid to CO2 allowance pricing? Northwest Power and Conservation Council Resource Analyst Maury Galbraith needed to know. Using AURORAxmp and forecast assumptions from AURORAxmp databases, Galbraith asked how high emissions pricing would have to rise to reduce the regional power system’s CO2 production, and determined the Northwest power system’s sensitivity to increased natural gas prices, in terms of price and emissions. He shared his findings at EPIS’s 2008 Electric Market Forecasting Conference.
ATCO Power
ATCO Power is a major power provider to the Canadian market. In 2005, they needed a strategic analysis of their Alberta portfolio for the next four years. They had seven months and one employee to get the job done. Using AURORAxmp, EPIS databases, and furnishing their own assumptions based on their expertise in the Alberta power market, ATCO Power’s researcher delivered the goods on time. All analytics were produced using AURORAxmp, giving decision-makers an enhanced understanding of market dynamics on individual assets, and a useful strategic analysis of assets in their merchant portfolio.