This CommodityPoint study provides the latest analysis of the trends impacting the market for ETRM software in North America, and provides a quantitative analysis of the size of that market. Included in this report (a follow-on to UtiliPoint's 2006 North American ETRM Market Sizing and Analysis report) is an expanded examination of market forces and trends impacting market players and the providers of ETRM solutions and services. This analysis and report is backed by UtiliPoint's proprietary research and models, and provides a five year overview of the market from 2006 through 2010 covering the four primary drivers of revenues -new license sales, incremental license sales (or sales to existing customers), associated support and maintenance, and services associated with implementation of new ETRM systems. Additionally the report provides a detailed examination of the current market size, including market size by commodity and industry segment.

CommodityPoint believes this 36 page report to be the most comprehensive examination of the North American market for ETRM products available, and is critical information for investors, software firms, consulting organizations and others to support investment decisions and guide the allocation of resources (both capital and human).

This study was sponsored by The Structure Group and RiskAdvisory (A Division of SAS).

The objective of this study was to broadly understand the use of weather forecast and weather data at energy companies including:

• - Assessment of the use of on staff meteorologists;
• - Types of meteorological data utilized and its relevance;
• - Users of weather forecasts and weather data inside an energy company; and,
• - Examination of how such services are procured by energy companies.
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During the month of October 2007, UtiliPoint International Inc. conducted a ‘snapshot’ electronic survey regarding the use of weather forecast and weather data by energy companies. The survey was distributed using the UtiliPoint IssueAlert email lists and 81 total responses were collected. This report outlines the results of the survey and provides some analysis of the use of weather forecast and weather data by energy companies.

In the spring of 2007, UtiliPoint International, Inc. began a survey of European energy traders and utility companies with the objective of benchmarking and understanding their trading application and IT environment, application portfolio and levels of integration. In some respects, the study was similar to that conducted by UtiliPoint in North America in 2004. The survey did not ask about their ETRM software solution but rather the systems used around it and the levels of integration between them. The current study also looked at the IT architectures and infrastructure that support the broader trading business function.

This report provides a view of the levels of maturity of the different application areas around trading & risk management in Europe. For completeness, data has also been utilized from other UtiliPoint reports including the 2007 Benchmarking of European ETRM Software study, the North American survey referenced above and the 2005 North American Gas Company study.