ART - Procuring Energy Commodities 2011

The document discusses the procurement of energy commodities by governmental purchasing organizations. It highlights that this area is still new and undefined for many organizations due to the transition from regulated to competitive supply. The document presents the results of a survey conducted by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) to understand how governmental entities approach the procurement of energy. It identifies opportunities for third-party supply and the lack of knowledge among local governments regarding these opportunities. The document also emphasizes the importance of market information in securing the best prices for energy and the use of professional consultants in the procurement process. It concludes that energy procurement practices will become more formalized as familiarity increases and the use of intelligence and professional assistance will continue to grow. The document also mentions the availability of compliant purchasing through the Public Sourcing Solutions (PSS) platform.