The cost of good data

The US-based Committee of Chief Risk Officers plans to propose voluntary standardsfor energy price reporting later this year, in the hope of ruling out any needfor mandatory standards. Joe Marsh reports

The issue of how energy companies report power and natural gas prices may becoming to a head in the US. A survey by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(Ferc) and ongoing investigations by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission(CFTC) have shown that steps still need to be taken to encourage best practicein this area. But many in the industry argue that Ferc should not introduce mandatoryrules, as the regulator has suggested could happen.

The total in fines imposed by the CFTC on energy