22 pieces published
Daniel Foster
Energy Markets Analyst, Seenra Inc
Energy Markets Analyst at Seenra Inc. Daniel covers wholesale market signals — capacity auctions, PJM and ERCOT clearing prices, and the upstream curves that drive what shows up on a US energy bill. Previously a market analyst at a Mid-Atlantic generator before joining Seenra to translate market-desk insight into household-readable guidance. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- PJM capacity market
- Wholesale futures
- Capacity-tag mechanics
- Market-desk translation
- Pennsylvania + mid-Atlantic
Guides written by Daniel
Why is my gas bill so high in winter? The cold-snap math
Winter gas bills 3–5× higher than summer is structural, not a billing error. Heating-degree days, the Dec–Feb wholesale spike, and the diagnostic checklist for separating weather from usage from rate.
state by-state · 8 minHow to use PaPowerSwitch to find a cheaper electricity rate
PA's official rate-comparison portal walks you to a fixed-rate supplier in 5 minutes. ZIP, PTC, sort, filter, sign — the workflow Pennsylvania residents use to escape the default rate.
saving money · 7 minBudget billing vs actual billing — pros, cons, the math
Budget billing flattens your monthly payment by averaging 12 months of usage. Cash-flow predictable, but with a true-up at year-end. When it pays off and when actual billing wins.
smart meters-and-ev · 7 minEV charging cost per mile vs gas — the real math
On EV-specific TOU rates, $/mile runs 2–4¢ vs gas at 12–18¢. The state-by-state comparison and the home-charging vs public-DC-fast-charge cost spread.
saving money · 7 minPhantom power — how vampire devices add 10% to your bill
Idle electronics drawing 24/7 add up to 5–10% of a typical US household bill. The biggest offenders, the smart-strip fix, and the rule for spotting phantom load on a smart-meter portal.
renewables · 9 minNet metering explained — state-by-state rules in 2026
Net metering credits solar owners for excess production sent to the grid. Full retail credits, partial credits, "value of solar" formulas — the state map that decides your payback.
commercial · 10 minCapacity tag management — the once-a-year compounder
PJM and ERCOT set your capacity tag based on usage during 5 peak hours per year. The forecasting strategy + load-shedding playbook that cuts a commercial customer's capacity charge 15–30%.
state by-state · 9 minSwitching electricity in Illinois — ComEd, Ameren, Plug In Illinois
Illinois deregulated retail electricity in 1997. ComEd (Chicago + northern), Ameren Illinois (downstate), and MidAmerican (parts of north-central) own the wires; competitive ARES suppliers compete on supply. Plug In Illinois is the official rate-comparison portal.
state by-state · 8 minSwitching electricity in Maryland — BGE, Pepco, Delmarva, Potomac Edison
Maryland deregulated electricity in 1999. BGE (Baltimore metro), Pepco (DC suburbs), Delmarva Power (Eastern Shore), Potomac Edison (western MD), SMECO (southern MD) own the wires. Maryland PSC regulates supplier licensing.
state by-state · 7 minSwitching electricity in Delaware — Delmarva, DEC, supplier choice
Delaware deregulated electricity in 1999 for Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric Cooperative customers. Municipal utilities (Newark, Dover) operate under different rules. DE PSC regulates licensing for the deregulated portion.
appliances and-equipment · 7 minClothes dryer energy cost — electric vs gas vs heat-pump
Electric resistance: 4 kWh/load. Gas: 0.18 therms + 0.4 kWh/load. Heat-pump electric: 1.5 kWh/load. The cost-per-load math + the load-frequency math that decides which fuel wins.
appliances and-equipment · 7 minVariable-speed pool pump — the 80% savings math
A 2 HP single-speed pump uses 1,800-2,500 watts at $40-$150/mo. A variable-speed running at low speed uses 200-400 watts at $10-25/mo. The pump-affinity math + the rebate landscape.
renewables · 8 minSolar panel cost by system size — 6 kW vs 8 kW vs 10 kW
2026 residential solar runs $3.00-$3.50/W installed. 6 kW = $18K-$21K. 8 kW = $24K-$28K. 10 kW = $30K-$35K. The system-sizing math + payback by state.
renewables · 8 minSolar incentives by state in 2026 — what's left after the federal cut
The 30% federal tax credit expired Dec 31 2025. State incentives still apply in CA, MA, NY, NJ, MD, IL, and others — $1,500 to $5,000 per system. The state-by-state map for 2026.
heating and-cooling · 8 minHeating oil — pre-buy vs cap vs market price plans
Pre-buy locks the price for a fixed gallon volume. Cap puts a ceiling. Market floats with the spot price. The 4-plan-type math + when each one wins.
commercial · 9 minWarehouse electricity — LED + HVAC + bay-by-bay strategy
Warehouses use 95 kWh/sqft annually on average. LED high-bays cut lighting 70%. Demand-controlled ventilation cuts HVAC 20-30%. The big-leverage moves on a 100,000 sqft footprint.
smart meters-and-ev · 8 minHome energy monitors — Emporia Vue vs Sense vs others
Whole-home energy monitors give you 15-second-resolution circuit-level data. Emporia Vue ($150) measures specific circuits; Sense ($300) uses ML to identify devices. The buying guide.
energy literacy · 7 minWhat is a therm? Gas units explained — therms, CCF, MCF, BTU
A therm is 100,000 BTU — about the heat content of 100 cubic feet of natural gas. The unit conversions, why the bill mixes them, and how to translate therms to monthly heating dollars.
energy literacy · 9 minThe capacity market explained — PJM, ERCOT, and your bill
Capacity markets pay generators to be available even when not running. PJM cleared at decade-high in 2026; that flows into your delivery bill within 6-18 months. The mechanic + the bill impact.
energy literacy · 9 minWho generates US electricity — gas, nuclear, renewables, coal
US 2026 electricity generation: 43% natural gas, 22% renewables, 18% nuclear, 15% coal, 2% other. The state-by-state variation, the trend over time, and what it means for residential rates.
saving money · 7 minPool + spa electric cost — heater, pump, lighting savings
A typical pool + spa setup costs $80-$300/month in electricity. Variable-speed pump (saves $400+/yr), pool cover (saves $200-$600/yr on heating), LED conversion (saves $50-100/yr).
reading the-bill · 8 minThe capacity charge on your bill — the silent compounder
Capacity is the once-a-year reservation fee for generation availability. PJM and ERCOT set it via auction. Capacity has surged 50-150% in recent auctions — and it flows through to your bill.