Pipeline Capacity, Gas, Storage and Services
Optimal Markets began offering pipeline capacity auctions in 2004, including features in its platform to accommodate the heavily regulated pipeline industry. In addition to selling capacity, users apply Optimal Markets' auctions to storage and system gas transactions.
For Gulf South Pipeline
Gulf South has various business needs that lend themselves to auctions, with the objectives of providing fairness and transparency in transactions.
Optimal Markets provides Gulf South with solutions for heavily regulated capacity sales, as well as gas and storage transactions. Interested bidders are given secure login usernames and passwords and access the auctions through ordinary Internet browsers. Because Optimal Markets auctions are hosted at its own secure data processing center, there is virtually no burden for Gulf South's IT staff.
Auctions are done quickly and efficiently and while bidders do not see the identity of other bidders, they are given feedback throughout the auction process. Bidders view the auctions as fair and they are anxious to participate.
For Transwestern Pipeline
Optimal Markets began doing capacity auctions for Transwestern Pipeline, a Panhandle Energy company, in 2005. Transwestern executives work with Optimal Markets' auction managers to configure and run auctions that adjust to market demand in real-time. Optimal Markets auctions provide dramatic increases in productivity and help establish fair prices in difficult markets.
Optimal Markets auctions, though complex and powerful, are easy to use. Transwestern's own marketing staff were able to configure and run even their first auction, which was a great success.