Sempra Energy’s Los Angeles-based gas utility Southern California Gas Co. Wednesday announced it is offering to list natural gas suppliers who market to its largest customers on the utility web site (www.socalgas.com). Suppliers interested in being listed should call: Mary Reid, SoCalGas transportation products advisor, 213-244-3898. As the nation’s largest gas utility distribution company, SoCalGas serves 18 million customers through 5.1 million meters in a service territory encompassing 23,000 miles in the southern half of California. The utility said the move was another effort to “provide exceptional customer service.”

Due to the difficulties brought on by the Mine 84 fire, Pittsburgh-based Consol Energy said Wednesday that it is revising its current earnings guidance for the first quarter 2003 downward from $0.15-0.20 per diluted share to $0.00-0.05 per diluted share. In addition to fewer tons being produced from Mine 84 resulting from the fire, Consol’s earnings were also rocked by the costs associated with firefighting activity at Loveridge Mine and Mine 84, and lower clean ton recovery at McElroy Preparation Plant. In February 2003 , Consol produced 4.8 million tons of coal, marking a sharp decrease from the 6.3 million tons produced during February 2002. Natural gas production went up to 3.6 Bcf/d in February 2003 from 3.1 Bcf/d during the similar month a year ago. Electricity production was 1,935 MWh in the 2003 month, up from zero during February 2002. Consol began electricity production in July 2002. On Tuesday, Consol announced that it had recalculated its future net cash flows of proved coalbed methane gas (CBM) reserves, estimating a current value of $1.09 billion before taxes, and assuming a 10% discount rate, as of Dec.31, 2002 (see Daily GPI, March 12). With current high gas prices, the company noted that the value is nearly two-and-one-half times 2001’s reserve value of $432 million. Swift Energy Co.

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