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Lone Star Gas International along with two partners was awardeda permit to build a gas distribution system in Mexico City byMexico’s Comision Reguladora de Energia (CRE). Lone Star is a 70%partner in a consortium that is to invest $213 million over 10years for a system that will have nearly 440,000 users, the vastmajority of them residential. Lone Star’s partners, each with 15%,are the Mexican companies Grupo Diavaz and Controladora Comercial eIndustrial.

Bay State Gas subsidiary Northern Utilities announced plans forgas distribution service in communities along the coastal corridornorth of Portland, ME. Communities to be served include Bath,Brunswick, Topsham, Freeport, Yarmouth, and Falmouth, as well asthe towns of Sanford, and Kittery in York County. The area iscontiguous to Northern’s existing service territory, and gas ratesin expansion areas will mirror those of Northern’s existing Mainecustomers, the company said.

Hot weather in the producing states of Louisiana and Texas,along with the futures screen’s rising example, set the tone forcash price hikes of 2-3 cents to almost a dime Monday. One tradersaid supplies seemed a bit tight in the Gulf Coast and Midcontinentfor some reason, allowing that it might have been southern coolingdemand soaking up available gas.