Advantage

Hoping to take advantage of future volatility in the California gas and power markets, Aquila Inc. has formed a partnership with ArcLight Energy Partners Fund to purchase Houston-based Western Hub Properties LLC for $220 million. Western Hub is a natural gas storage development company that owns the proposed Lodi Gas Storage facility near Sacramento as well as rights to other potential storage sites. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission.

Acting on recent Ohio legislation aimed at making natural gas customer-choice programs in the state more “consumer-friendly,” the recently formed Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), the nation’s largest public energy aggregated buying group, reported that it has entered into a one-year contract with Shell Energy for natural gas services to residents of the 95 NOPEC communities.

Major American businesses that have taken advantage of powerderegulation and switched suppliers have benefited from lowerprices, but they also have received less service, performance andvalue, and they’re ready to switch again, according to a survey byRKS Research and Consulting.

In the first meeting of the newly-formed Alaska Highway NaturalGas Policy Council (AHNGPC) last week, Alaska Gov. Tony Knowlescharged the 28-member panel of community, business and laborleaders with the task of looking into public policy questionssurrounding the development and transportation of natural gas inthe North Slope.

A mild European winter with accompanying low heating oil priceswas the saving grace for U.S. industrials that took advantage ofthe flood of heating oil imports to switch off high-priced naturalgas. Revised estimates by Raymond James Associates show industrialsswitching at 5 Bcf/d during the coldest part of the winter, ratherthan the 3 Bcf/d originally estimated.

The Royal Dutch/Shell Group is planning to integrate itsworldwide trading activities under one banner in order to takeadvantage of energy trading opportunities. ‘Shell Trading’ will actas a singular worldwide network of Shell’s trading activities.

The Royal Dutch/Shell Group is planning to integrate itsworldwide trading activities under one banner in order to takeadvantage of energy trading opportunities. ‘Shell Trading’ will actas a singular worldwide network of Shell’s trading activities.

Independent producers who took advantage of soaring gas and oil prices put in a blockbuster second quarter, according to the numerous financial reports released yesterday. “Essentially everybody beat my earnings forecasts,” said Irene Haas, E&P analyst for Sanders Morris Harris in Houston.

Independent producers who took advantage of soaring gas and oilprices put in a blockbuster second quarter, according to thenumerous financial reports released yesterday. “Essentiallyeverybody beat my earnings forecasts,” said Irene Haas, E&Panalyst for Sanders Morris Harris in Houston.