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With Tuesday lows forecast to keep approaching or going below the freezing level in the Northeast and Midwest, spot prices recorded double-digit gains at all points Monday. The return of industrial load from its holiday weekend decline and the previous Thursday’s 4.1-cent increase by April futures also provided small measures of support for the cash market.

Saying it anticipates “significant market load in conjunction with below-normal temperatures forecast for most of its market area,” starting Tuesday Transco will not allow any nominations to resolve due-shipper imbalances until further notice. Due-pipeline makeup nominations will be allowed, the pipeline said.

Southern California Gas said its storage inventory dropped below the 70% level Wednesday morning, and in accordance with its Winter Balancing rules, that event triggers increase delivery requirements for customers. “Since we are at the beginning of a [five]-day 50% balancing period, we will allow the current [five]-day period to run its course fully,” the giant LDC said. “The 70% daily requirement will begin on Monday…We will only go back to the 50% [five]-day balancing if the storage inventory increases by 1 Bcf above the 70% trigger.”

Although lows around freezing or below would persist into at least Saturday in the Northeast, Midwest, much of the interior West and the eastern end of the South, prices fell by double-digit amounts at all points Friday. A gradual warming trend was under way in many areas, especially in the South where near-springlike temperatures could be expected by early this week.

ANR noted Thursday that weather forecasts in much of its market area for Friday through the upcoming weekend “project temperatures near or below zero degrees Fahrenheit.” In order to preserve system integrity, ANR declared an Extreme Condition that begins Friday until further notice and will lower the “Swing Percentage” (imbalance tolerance) from 10% to 5%. In addition, ANR is not allowing any Unauthorized Overrun service under various rate schedules and will not schedule any Interruptible Park and Lend Service until further notice. See the bulletin board for information on hourly flow rate restrictions.

The nation’s third largest oil company, ConocoPhillips, reported third quarter earnings that were 5% below the year-ago period. The decline was largely due to weakness in the company’s refining business, it said last week.

The nation’s third largest oil company, ConocoPhillips, reported third quarter earnings that were 5% below the year-ago period. The decline was largely due to weakness in the company’s refining business, it said Wednesday.

September natural gas futures suffered a double-digit drubbing Thursday as the release of fresh storage inventory data revealing another large injection of 77 Bcf served to further allay concerns of a supply shortfall.

January-ending prices were down moderately at most points Tuesday despite below-normal temperatures continuing in several market areas. The overall softness was attributed to a 25.8-cent expiration-day dive by February futures Monday and growing use of storage supplanting new purchases of spot gas.