The Energy Information Administration has a new web site with aninteractive map on natural gas choice programs nationwide. The mapshows programs for residential customers in individual states rangefrom full choice (in New Mexico, New York and West Virginia, withan additional nine states in the implementation phase) to test or”pilot” programs in 11 states that provide a choice of supplier forsome customers. An additional 11 states are considering action oncustomer choice, while 17 states have thus far taken no action. EIAfound consumer reaction to choice has been mixed. In some states,such as Nebraska, 97% of the eligible residential and commercialcustomers are electing to choose a supplier. In other states,however, such as Indiana and New Jersey, the participation is 2% orless of those eligible. The map does not provide complete data oncustomer choice or nationwide totals, but it does provide importantinformation on gas unbundling in each state. An EIA spokeswomansaid the administration plans to continue updating the site andintends to release a summary page soon that is expected to shownationwide residential participation levels at about 17% of thoseeligible. To find out more about the status of choice programs ineach of the 50 states and the District of Columbia visit the EIAweb site at: https://www.eia.doe.gov.

Mexico’s Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) last week reported acomplete lack of interest in the Tijuana gas distribution zone. TheCRE said the tender for a permit to supply and distribute gas inMexico’s northern border region was declared void when no bids werereceived by the June 3 deadline. It marks the first time a newMexican gas distribution zone has not attracted private investors.Three firms originally had expressed interest, including GasNatural Mexico, the Mexican affiliate of Spain’s Gas Natural andRepsol; DGN de Tijuana, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy; and Mexicanconstruction firm Bufete Industrial. And Sempra already has beenawarded a permit to build a large gas pipeline to the area and haswon two other distribution permits. But a Sempra spokesman said theeconomics in Tijuana didn’t support a project there. Anotherobserver noted Tijuana has very few large industrial customers incontrast to most other Mexican distribution zones.

Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas CEO Mark Monroe said his company ispleased with its drilling results for the first half of the year.”The combination of good drillbit success and low drilling andcompletion costs has us on track to report another year ofattractive finding costs. Based upon internal reserve estimates,finding costs for the first six months are down approximately 10%from last years’ $0.86 per Mcfe. With a solid slate of low-riskdevelopment projects and potentially impactful exploratoryprospects, we are excited about our second half drilling plans.”During the second quarter, the company completed 41 out of 46 wellsas producers in its Gulf Coast, Permian and Mid-Continent coreregions.

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