2003

Last week, even before Hurricane Isabel’s course had taken a definite turn toward the U.S. mid-Atlantic Coast, utilities all along the coast and inland in the prospective path of the broad and intense storm had begun to ready their outage personnel and alert customers of possible wide-ranging devastation if Isabel hits late this week and bounces along the coast as have some previous storms.

A study of 176 oil and gas fields in the prolific energy basin of Western Canada has found that operating costs continue to rise. Ziff Energy Group analysts report that in 2002, the average cost to operate natural gas fields was up 3% to C$0.70/Mcfe, while average oil operating costs increased 6% to C$6.85/boe.

Increased focus on energy efficiency measures and renewable energy both locally and nationally could cut natural gas prices 10-20%, saving consumers $15 billion/year nationally or about $96 per year for an average residential household, according to a new study prepared for the Energy Foundation.

Nearly four years after retail gas market deregulation allowed residential customers across Georgia to buy gas from alternative suppliers, complaints have slowed to a trickle and the state legislature and staff of the Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) have been able to turn to fine-tuning the system.

A study of 176 oil and gas fields in the prolific energy basin of Western Canada has found that operating costs continue to rise. Ziff Energy Group analysts report that in 2002, the average cost to operate natural gas fields was up 3% to C$0.70/Mcfe, while average oil operating costs increased 6% to C$6.85/boe.

Gas market experts are expecting a large gas storage injection for the week ending Sept. 5. Although storage injections have averaged 68 Bcf for the same week over the last five years and last week’s injection was only 70 Bcf, gas futures analyst Kyle Cooper of Citigroup is forecasting a 100 Bcf weekly number from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) this Thursday, and energy consultant Stephen Smith said he’s expecting a 95 Bcf weekly build.

Increased focus on energy efficiency measures and renewable energy both locally and nationally could cut natural gas prices 10-20%, saving consumers $15 billion/year nationally or about $96 per year for an average residential household, according to a new study prepared by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and Arlington, VA-based energy consulting firm Energy and Environmental Analysis Inc. (EEA).

“Let’s roll” was the oft-repeated refrain of Republican and some Democrat conferees Friday, as they met in an initial conference committee session and pledged to finish work by the end of the month on a comprehensive energy bill that would respond to the public’s concerns about an aging electric transmission infrastructure, potential winter price spikes in natural gas and obscenely high gasoline prices.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Puget Sound Energy, PacifiCorp, Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Reliant Resources and Williams Power Co. have all had their names added to a growing list of companies that have signed settlement agreements with FERC staff, dismissing allegations that they attempted the manipulate the California energy market in 2000-2001.