Prices emerged from the weekend flat to slightly higher or lowerMonday at nearly all points outside the declining California andRockies/San Juan markets. There probably would have been moreeastern softness, sources said, if weather in the Northeast andMidwest hadn’t exhibited more of a tendency to retreat back intowinter, rather than press forward into spring. Even the South wasseeing more chill than normal for this time of year.

But don’t expect this mild burst of heating load to last,according to a Northeast utility buyer. “I woke up this morning tosnow, but it’s sunny again this [Monday] afternoon.” Areatemperatures should be back in the 50s around Wednesday, he said.”I’m definitely ready to leave winter behind.”

Today’s numbers may get a little boost from the screen, whichstayed in negative territory during the morning, venturing tonearly a nickel higher in the afternoon, a Houston-based producersaid.

Though April business remained a non-event for the most part,several traders indicated they had begun clearing their swingpositions for bidweek.

A producer who had reported a $5.05 Chicago citygate sale forApril early last week, said the market is certainly higher thanthat now. He and a marketer reported hearing NI-Gas deliveriestrading in the low $5.40s Tuesday. The producer also said he hadput in a Chicago bid at the GPI index plus 0.75 cent. “People mustreally want the gas next month if they’re willing to pay even asmall index premium in a shoulder month,” he said.

One supplier quoted a Southern California border sale at justunder $8 into PG&E at Topock. That’s $2-3 below where heexpects the Topock-SoCal Gas index to come out, “but you have tobid low at the border when you’re competing with PG&E citygatedeliveries,” he said.

One trader said he was hearing basis of minus 6-7 cents forPanhandle Eastern and minus 10 cents for NGPL-Midcontinent.

©Copyright 2001 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.