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Retail gas competition is starting to pick up speed inCalifornia despite continued consumer apathy, according to a surveyof the state’s three gas distribution utilities released last week.

Thursday was an excellent day to pursue a sell-early, buy-latestrategy in the Gulf Coast, according to a marketer. He saw TranscoStation 65, Henry Hub and TGT SL uniformly start around $2 even,then get up to $2.03 before falling back to the mid $1.90s in lateactivity. He thought the early cash strength was based on thescreen rising a few cents, but a lack of fundamental demand failedto support the upticks

The capacity of natural gas pipelines reached an all-time highof more than 84 Bcf/d or 30.7 Tcf/year in 1997, according to areported released Friday by the Energy Information Administration.”This represents a 15% increase over installed capacity reported in1990,” EIA said in a report: “Deliverability on the InterstateNatural Gas Pipeline System.” Flowing gas increased 24% between1990 and 1996, resulting in a record high 75% utilization rate,while U.S. consumption grew by 17%, fed by a doubling of imports.U.S. production increased 6%.

An analysis of power marketing sales shows early signs ofconsolidation among power marketers, according to CarolynPengidore, managing director of energy risk management for ArthurAndersen. “I think we’re seeing wholesale changes in the wholesalemarket,” she told the Gas Mart/Power ’98 audience. “The fourthquarter brought a reshuffling among industry leaders based on salesvolume. I’ve called this a race because the leaders have changed ina single quarter,” said Pengidore.

May 1 is known as May Day, celebrated as a springtime festivalin some countries, according to Webster’s. But Friday must haveseemed like “Mayday” (international distress call) to many tradersas they watched cash prices crumble to levels that were virtuallyunimaginable last month. A few Gulf Coast points were sinking below$2 in widely ranging quotes.

The coming Foothills/Northern Border expansion will impact gasprices and gas flows in several ways, according to a new report byPIRA Energy Group. Foothills/Northern Border will carry 700 MMcf/dfrom Alberta to the Midwest. Completion is expected Nov. 1.