Submitted by EnergyTechStocks.com

As big a shock as $4-a-gallon gasoline is proving to be for many Americans, the warning signs have been there for the last four years, during which time pump prices have consistently recorded huge year-over-year jumps averaging roughly 50 cents a gallon. While $4 gas isn’t likely to crush investors’ portfolios, there are other energy shocks on the horizon that could – plus at least one that could be a pleasant surprise. In this EnergyTechStocks.com Special Report, we look at five events investors would be wise to plan for as best as they can. None are certain to happen, but the signs are there.

Shock #5 – Determined to maintain control of the distribution of transportation fuel as electric vehicles hit the market, oil refiners embark on an acquisition spree that sees them gobble up dozens of America’s major electric utilities.

While the other energy shocks described in this series are events investors must defend against, this last one could turn out to be the mother of all investing opportunities. The thought of oil companies owning electric utilities probably sounds foreign to most investors. But it makes perfect sense when you consider that for at least the next 25 to 50 years some people are going to be driving vehicles that run on electricity, while others will be driving vehicles that run on a liquid fuel – straight gasoline, straight biofuel, or a combination of both. While Big Oil should be able to absorb biofuel into its existing distribution network, to maintain its current dominance it will have to acquire America’s major electric utilities.

Probably not all electric utilities will be acquired. But all of the big ones could be because they tend to serve large urban areas where electric transportation should be most popular due to the relatively short distances most Americans must travel each day.

To be sure, there’s no time line on when this acquisition spree might start. Moreover, whenever the first deal is announced, the trend could be delayed by legal challenges. But eventually, if EnergyTechStocks.com is right, utilities such as Consolidated Edison, Exelon, DTE Energy and American Electric Power could get bought out at healthy premiums.