The gas industry

Introduction This project involved calculation of the annual average data of gas prices in US cities. The data was for years 1982 to 2011. The scatter diagram shows the exact movement of the prices since 1982.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The gas industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although the prices have fluctuation both upwards and downwards, the clear pattern is that these prices have been on upward trend overtime. Although the most recent prices are yet to reach the historic high that was recorded in 2008, there is a clear indication that the prices will never drop to the low range of 1990’s. The linear regression analysis shows that the prices are on a positive trend, and they will continue to increase in the next 10 years. Since 1989, the prices of the gas have been increasing steadily. This could perhaps have resulted from tight demand and supply balance, which exposes gas market to tremen dous price swings when unforeseen adjustments takes place in the market – these includes supply constraints resulting from natural disasters and spike in demand that results from weather changes. This report focuses the effects of higher gas prices on our distribution company in the next 10 years. The gas industry is operating under a challenging and a dynamic global marketplace characterized by persistent price surges. Over the recent years, oil price fluctuation has become the order of the day. In spite of this, our delivery company has a challenging task of ensuring it focus on the medium to long-term conditions, if it is to make credible decisions and achieve its growth targets. Investing in people, technology and RD are critical to ensuring a lasting competitive edge (Dybvig Stephen, 1985).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When the prices of natural gas increase, all the end-use consuming sectors are affected significantly. Although the observed trend may be a suitable market reaction to the existing supply and demand, the adjustments to higher prices impacts on both suppliers and consumers of gas. Higher gas prices renders distributors to higher risks. This problem is made even worse by defaults of payments and reduced markets as a result of higher consumption efficiencies and conservation that results from economic or political factors. The reduction in market volumes will force the distributors to adopt cost recovery strategies. Consequently, the financial returns as a result of the potential impact of the market developments will be substantial. Supposing the increased prices of gas will reduce the consumption by the customers, this will cause a lot of problems since the distributors have designed their systems to meet the demand especially on peak seasons. If the consumption fails to recover soon, then this may grind down cost recovery slowly and result into a serious negative effect on the potential for our market growth. Although a delivery company can result to new rates that matches the lower expenditure per customer, this course can be costly and length. The constant price surges since 1989 have worsened problems that results from our distribution market. This surge draws a parallel relationship with the defaults by the customers and increase in late payments.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The gas industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This in turn results to increased costs to the distributors and it may eventually result in bad debts when the efforts to collect the bills fail to bear fruits. Therefore, the distribution companies may result to changing their rates in an attempt to alleviate some of the impacts of reduced volumes of delivery. Although prices may reduce from the historically high of 2008, they appear to have moved to a range considerably higher than that of the 1990’s. If the higher prices will carry on, the problems of reduction in gas consumption per customer, reduction in gas markets, and payments issues are expected to persist in the next ten years. Furthermore, since the prices have gone up, the scale of price fluctuations that occurs daily will perhaps scale up, which will exacerbate the price risk faced by our delivery company (Squires, 1995). Our company has to contend with the mounting uncertainty that is particularly typical of the recent decades. With tighter regulations and new policies to adhere to, long-term planning and strategy are very critical, given the uncertain environment. In a bid to balance the mounting demand and price surge with sustainable and sufficient energy, our company will have to adopt new technologies. As the market continues to become more competitive albeit increased prices, industry analysts have continued to forecast a positive trend in gas demand. Besides demand, there are several other positive trends, including improvements in refining and improved GDP. However, these positive signals cannot be so impressive considering the 2008 economic crisis, which left the industry in tatters.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As such, there is a significant upward pressure on the prices of oil and gas. This is contributed by the geopolitical turbulence that has hit Islamic countries, from Middle East to North Africa, as well as a general speculation of an upsurge in commodities market (Bodie, Kane Marcus, 2009). If the gas prices will continue with the upward trend, then mending up of the economy may come under a threat, which will affect gas demand in the next ten years. This problem will be exacerbated by the fact that the markets are fundamentally oversupplied. As already discussed, the uncertainty that has gripped the industry is constraining unrestrained optimism, which is marked in all sectors, but more pronounced in the downstream sector. In this sector, the uncertainty emanated from the so called refinery ‘golden age’, which took a high toll in 2006 when refiners were enjoying high profit margins as a result of increased oil demand. Therefore, the refining market is still finding a way of avoiding recurrence of such conditions in the future. This incidence left a market full of persistent overcapacity in OECD nations. In spite of the grim prospects, the industry can draw some optimism from adapted tactics for the uncertain market circumstances. Strategizing a business, which is flexible enough to capitalize on the changing market dynamics will be critical to any promising prospects in this industry, in the coming years (Christopherson, Wayne Andrew, 1999). In the analysis, I have predicted that the gas prices will increase to $13.67 in the next ten years. Although there are considerable errors associated with this analysis, this forecast may turn out to be true considering the drastic fluctuation that have been experienced in recent years, in addition to the disturbance that is likely to come from the political and economical factors that have reigned the oil producing giants from the middle east (Banerjee, 1990) Conclusion The analysis shows a clear indicati on that the gas price surge will persist in the next ten years. Certainly, this situation will have a significant impact on the operation of the delivery companies. Mostly importantly, the customers will experience more problems repaying their debts hence imposing extra costs their operations, and also affect their cash flows negatively. In addition, the delivery companies will result to price reductions in response the shrinking demand – this will significantly reduce their profit margins. Albeit the multiple risks associated with prices surges, analysis have predicted that the demand for this commodity will continue to increase in the future, but the delivery companies may continue to suffer because the competition in the market is intensifying. References Banerjee, B. (1990). Financial Policy and Management Accounting. London: PHI Learning Pvt. Bodie, Z., Kane, A., Marcus, J. (2009). Essentials of Investments. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Christopherson, J. A., Wayne, E.F ., Andrew, L. (1999). Performance Evaluation Using Conditional Alphas and Betas. Journal of Portfolio Management, 26(1), 59–72. Dybvig, P.H., Stephen A.R. (1985). The Analytics of Performance Measurement. Journal of Finance, 40(2), 2-56. Squires, J. (1995). Performance Evaluation, Benchmarks, and Attribution Analysis. Charlottesville: Management and Research Association. This essay on The gas industry was written and submitted by user Kason W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Setting a Resolution at New Years Eve

Setting a Resolution at New Years Eve The end of the year is approaching and a new one is about to begin. Every year, thousands of people make New Years Resolutions and every year, thousands of people break them before the month of January is up. Do you want to stick to yours this year but youre not sure how? Fundamentals of Setting and Keeping Your Resolution Prioritize There may be several goals you wish to achieve, but the year only has 365 days and depending on how big the goals and how distant your starting point, you may need to save some things for next year. Assess what you need to change the most and prioritize that. It can be fun to create a fantasy list that includes traveling the world, running a marathon and becoming a French chef, but it will be easier for you to actually keep your resolution if you prioritize. Be positive Maybe this past year hasnt been such a great year for you. Youre not the first or the last person to have a bad year. But that doesnt mean that next year cant be better. Resolutions are about hope and about having the will to change and to achieve. Start with a positive attitude by making positive statements. Instead of: Stop ruining my health with cigarettes. Try: Honor my body and my health by living a smoke-free life. Instead of: Stop dating losers. Try: Start dating people who contribute positively to my life. Instead of: Quit my miserable job. Try: Land a great job that pays well and makes me look forward to going to work every morning. Keeping your resolutions positive and free from self-punishment will make you feel better about working towards them. Write Down When and Where Youll Begin Make a commitment to your resolution by making a â€Å"contract† and writing down the details of when youll begin. Writing something down has a power of its own. It makes the resolution less of a fantasy and more of a reality. Have a Plan If you want to find a great partner, sign up for a dating site or ask friends if they know anyone who would be right for you. If you want to run a marathon, research training schedules and figure out when youre going to get your miles in. If youre looking for a better job, start researching for work and sending out resumes. If you need a good resume you can ask our experts to write it for you. Dont expect your resolution to magically happen without any planning on your part. Be Realistic Dont expect it to be easy to keep your resolution. Patterns, habits and addictions arent easy to break. Realize that there will be bumps and challenges along the way. Anticipating them will make it easier for you to work through tough periods with success. Make a Joint Resolution With a Friend Some goals have to be realized alone while others can be shared with a friend. If you want to run a marathon and you also have a friend who shares this dream, see if theyre willing to share this resolution with you. Having someone else to be accountable to makes it easier for you to keep your commitment. If your friend is waiting for you to jog around the park with them at 5 am and you hit snooze, the consequences will be more dire than if you were doing it alone. It not only holds you accountable, but having someone share the rough patches with you can also help motivate you to keep going. Youll be able to take turns supporting each other when the other one wants to quit. Enjoy the Ride There will be high points and victories along the way too. Dont forget that. Meeting a goal is a great feeling, so make sure you celebrate and enjoy those experiences when you have them. Reward yourself Knowing you have a reward waiting for you at the end of your year can serve as a great motivator. It can also help you honor the work youve done by allowing yourself the reward you deserve when you meet your goal. Whatever your resolution for next year, stay positive, work through the rough patches and give yourself the reward you deserve for your victories. Good luck and Happy New Year!

The 15 Worst Mistakes You Can Make in Your 20s

The 15 Worst Mistakes You Can Make in Your 20s Your 20s are a strange time in your life. It’s a period of transition, adjustment, discovery and lots of cat videos. You might be wrapping up your degree, searching for an entry level job or working your way towards becoming a professional napper. Whatever the case may be, we all know how crucial our 20s can be in terms of developing our foothold in this world. That being said, here are the 15 WORST mistakes you can make in your 20s. You’ll be happy to know, watching funny cat videos is not one of them.  Source [businesinsider]

Issues & Controversy with Public Policy Research Paper

Issues & Controversy with Public Policy - Research Paper Example In addition, the financial fines and penalties imposed by the US government in an attempt to persuade the uninsured people to change their status also pose serious challenges to low and middle income families. This paper will discuss the public policy issue of uninsured population in US and identify three policy initiatives that can address the issue. The term uninsured is commonly used to represent a person having no insurance coverage. According to Cropf (2008, p.323), the growing uninsured population in US was one of the primary concerns raised by the advocates of health care reform. A significant proportion of uninsured population in the United States has been a headache for the US policy makers for decades, and the introduction of the recent health care reform could not improve the situation notably. Multiple surveys indicate that the number of uninsured people has dropped due to the implementation of health changes resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). According to a report published by the Commonwealth Fund in July 2014, an additional 9.5 million people aged 19-64 obtained access to health insurance, representing approximately 5 percent of the working-aged population. The United States Census Bureau reported that there were 48 million uninsured in the US (representing 15.4% of the populatio n) in 2012. Despite the falling rate of uninsured in US, one cannot say Obamacare (or PPACA) is a success in addressing the issue of uninsured in the country because of its higher costs. In spite of the claims of the Obamacare advocates that the new insurance coverage plans would cost less than the average cable bill or cell phone bill, a survey finds that roughly half the of the uninsured in the US say that Obamacare is too expensive. According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation study released in January 2015 (as cited in Hall, 2015), 48% of the uninsured Americans are of the opinion that they remain uninsured due to the high

An Analysis on the Juvenile Justice System Dissertation

An Analysis on the Juvenile Justice System - Dissertation Example Young, O'Donnell and Clare (2001) in their report to the National Crime Council for the period 1950 - 1998 stated that, first and foremost, it had been difficult finding conclusive data for the majority of the period covered reflecting the lack of coordination on maintaining data on juvenile justice for the majority of the period of time covered in the report. Additionally, during the time period analyzed the age groupings fluctuated which made data gathering even more difficult. Several of the periods had overlapping age groups represented in several categories and during a 20 year period data was categorized for the age group 17 to 21 which did not reflect if the crimes were even committed by juveniles per se. Upon completion of the report, however, and with the limitations set forth previously addressed Young, O'Donnell and Clare (2001) presented their findings noting several general trends. Since 1958 the trend of juvenile offenses has been very erratic with marked differences fr om year to year in some cases. Figure 1 below shows the number of juvenile cases by year for the 40 year period. As seen from the above graph the highest recorded period of juvenile crime was in 1961 when 3,333 cases were reported. 1976 saw a dramatic drop in juvenile crime which may actually be a reflection of the change of reporting practices as opposed to an actual drop. As seen in the above chart since 1990 with the exception of 1996 juvenile crime has been decreasing at a steady rate. 1997 showed the all time low of only 465 cases while the following year the number juvenile offences increased slightly to 573. During the entire period of the study Young, O'Donnell and Clare (2001) reported that juveniles accounted for 23% of all reported crime in Ireland. The rate has not increased above 30% since 1961 and since the early 1990's has been 15% or less which reflects in the total number of youth being arrested for criminal offences. By 1997 only 9% of all crimes were committed by juveniles. This rose

Cell Phone History - The Evolution of the Cell Phone :: Expository Essays

Cell Phone History - The Evolution of the Cell Phone Cell phones have become a part of mainstream culture. Recently they have become more affordable and accomplish much more than making and receiving calls. Along with the growing popularity there is also growing concerns about safety and health. In this paper we will address cell phone history and how they have evolved. We will discuss health concerns such as tumors and talking while driving. Finally, we will talk about all of the technology that cell phones can accomplish such as receiving Email and buying stocks. History: In 1921 the Detroit Michigan Police Department first used mobile radio in a vehicle. Digital wireless and cellular roots started in the 1940s. In the 1940s new frequencies between 30 and 40 MHz were available. There was an increase of availability in channels which police systems were encouraged to use. Mobile units were available within private companies, individuals, and public agencies. In St. Louis, 1945 the first mobile telephone system in the US was introduced. Along the highway between New York and Boston a Public mobile system carried greater frequency distance in 1947. In 1n 1949, the FFC authorized separate radio channels to common carriers. A new system was developed with automatic channel selection in 1964. With this new system each call allowed customers to dial for themselves and it eliminated the need to push-to-talk operation. In 1975, in Chicago, AT&T was authorized to develop a cellular system. After this AT&T and Bell labs work with other cellular vendors to develop their cellular phones. Their phones were made so consumers would have the quality products available to use on cellular networks. There are many reasons why the mobile wireless has not progressed further in the last 60 years, this is because of cautiousness and federal regulation. The Federal Communications Commission controlled frequency availability. Their regulations and unresponsiveness had the most significant factors hindering radiotelephone development. The Federal Communication Commission delayed the technology in America by ten years. Health: Brain tumors and eye cancer are two health concerns of cell phones that are currently under investigation. Many people have heard rumors about whether or not cell phones are responsible for these health problems, but answers never seem to be found.

New Hire Essay

Dear Mr. Hendricks, My name is Brad Johnson and I am writing you today because I understand you are looking for a new mechanic for your racing team. I would like to inform you of my experience in order to prove to you that I am the right fit for the job that you are offering. I have been following your career as the owner of the top NASCAR team for quite some time now and have always dreamed of being involved with such a successful race team. I have looked forward to being a mechanic since my freshman year of high school. I already have a racing background and hope to expand my horizons by becoming involved with NASCAR and Hendricks racing. I am only twenty years old, but I have been racing and wrenching on my own machines and vehicles since I was nine years old. I have paid keen attention to your team’s track record and I know that your engines are some of the most reliable engines out on the track each and every week. I would like to become the head mechanic for Hendricks racing someday in the near future, but as of now I would be perfectly fine with working as an apprentice to gain my experience and hopefully take over the head mechanic position. I have not only gained mechanical experience from working on my own vehicles and machines, but I have also gathered experience from work and school. I took auto shop in high school for two years and at that moment I knew what field I was to enter after high school. I also had a part time job at fabrication shop in Morgan Hill, California. This shop was Pacific Fabrication and I worked as an intern to broaden my knowledge in the automotive field. I learned a lot at this shop and continued to pursue my career in this industry. After working as an internship for a year, I decided to take my knowledge even further by joining the ThinkBig program offered by Caterpillar at Delta College in Stockton, Ca. I have been going to school to earn my Associates degree and also to get training to become a journeyman technician. I was hired by Peterson CAT as an apprentice and have been working with Peterson for over a year now. Thankfully they have put me through school and helped me grow in the field of a dealer service technician. I love what I do but am looking to go further in life by gaining  more experience and working on machines that I truly have a passion for. To be honest, many people discount my credibility as a technician because I am very young still and may not be as experienced as most of your other tech’s that work for you, but what I lack in age and knowledge, I make up for in my willingness to learn and my ability to reach my goals. I hope you consider me for such an opportunity. I could be a beneficial asset to your company. I have always been interested in high power engines and would love to become your next engine builder. I have been racing long enough to understand that the key to winning is having high quality engines that produce great power and outlast those in competition. I believe that with time and training I could continue to produce engines for your team with just as good of a track record. I have a keen attention to detail which is a necessity when building these high output engines. When I am put to a task I do not ever cut corners to complete it. I have always put much effort into what I do. I never do anything half-way. I have always given my best effort when it comes to completing a task. With the recent advancements in technology, more and longer term mechanics are finding it difficult to work on these machines. Almost everything now days are controlled by some type of computer system. Just a few years ago the engines in NASCAR were carbureted and completely mechanical. With recent advancements in technology, these cars have all been updated to electronic fuel injection systems. Now that these engines are controlled and programmed by a computer, many older mechanics are not able to comprehend this new style of tuning and adjusting which may lead to drawbacks in your racing team. I have been trained through Caterpillar to work on these newer style engines which are all controlled by computers. Most of the work we have been taught is to use laptops to program and troubleshoot problems which is a necessity for fine tuning these engines to make the most power while maintaining reliability. All in all I am a hard working young man that is eager to learn. With the right opportunity I will become the master mechanic that the Hendricks racing team needs more than ever now with the recent advances in technology. I recognize that I am young and may not be the most experienced applicant, but with my eagerness to learn, attention to detail, and experience with these new style computer systems, I am sure that I would be a great match for the Hendricks racing  team. My background knowledge and experience with racing gives me the leading edge over those general mechanics who have not received any kind of formal training in this field. I will strive to be the best employee and technician you have ever had, and I will do all I can to continue to represent Hendricks racing as the best racing team in the history of NASCAR. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Brad Johnson