Wholesale gas and power sales still appear to be climbingsharply for most major marketers as Enron and Duke Energy bothposted significant increases in both commodities in third quarter.Southern Energy reported that while its third quarter NorthAmerican electricity sales declined from last year’s third quarterlevel, its gas sales enjoyed a sizable increase.

Southern sold 54.9 million MWh of electricity, a decrease of 16million MWh from last year’s third quarter figure of 70.9 millionMWh. A company spokesman attributed the decline on electricitysales primarily on the weather in the Northeast.

In comparison, Enron reported a 46% increase in electricity salefor the third quarter with 163 million MWh sold, compared to lastyear’s third quarter results totaling 111 million MWh. Duke alsoexperienced a jump in its power sales, increasing from 34 millionMWh for the third quarter of 1999 to 90 million MWh for the thirdquarter of 2000.

Even though Southern’s electricity sales lagged, the company’sgas sales flourished. Southern sold 7.3 Bcf/d, an increase from thecompany’s 4.6 Bcf/d during 3Q 1999.

Enron’s gas sales also rose significantly, from 13.3 Bcf/dduring 3Q 1999 to 24.6 Bcf for 3Q 2000, with most of the gainattributed to EnronOnline, its online commodity exchange. DukeEnergy rose from 10 Bcf/d to 12 Bcf/d. Duke Energy spokesman PaulMason said increased demand and more active trading were the twomajor reasons for Duke’s gains.

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