Boost

Getting a big boost from the jump of 21.7 cents by May futures going into the holiday weekend, spot prices rose by double-digit amounts at all points Monday. Increases in cooling load across the South and some residual heating demand in parts of the West, as well as the return of industrial load following a long holiday weekend, also contributed to the cash bullishness.

Getting a big boost from the jump of 21.7 cents by May futures going into the holiday weekend, spot prices rose by double-digit amounts at all points Monday. Increases in cooling load across the South and some residual heating demand in parts of the West, as well as the return of industrial load following a long holiday weekend, also contributed to the cash bullishness.

Screen, some remaining cold weather help boost most cash points slightly.

Screen, some remaining cold weather help boost most cash points slightly.

Environmental, solar industry and government officials in California praised a new state rebate program designed to boost solar water heating throughout the service territories of the state’s major private-sector utilities, claiming it will help greatly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create several thousand new jobs. The new $350 million program attributable to both natural gas and electric water heating was touted as good for the environment and the economy by the author of the state law (AB 1470) that directed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create programs backed by utility ratepayer funds.

Environmental, solar industry and government officials in California praised a new state rebate program designed to boost solar water heating throughout the service territories of the state’s major private-sector utilities, claiming it will help greatly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create several thousand new jobs. The new $350 million program attributable to both natural gas and electric water heating was touted as good for the environment and the economy by the author of the state law (AB 1470) that directed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create programs backed by utility ratepayer funds.

Environmental, solar industry and government officials in California praised a new state rebate program designed to boost solar water heating throughout the service territories of the state’s major private-sector utilities, claiming it will help greatly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create several thousand new jobs. The new $350 million program attributable to both natural gas and electric water heating was touted as good for the environment and the economy by the author of the state law (AB 1470) that directed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create programs backed by utility ratepayer funds.

The screen gain of 14.2 cents a day earlier helped the continuing cold weather in several regions to boost prices in nearly all of the cash market Thursday. Lows in the 20s and teens remained in the Friday forecast for a majority of locations in the Northeast, Midwest, Upper Plains, Rockies and Western Canada. Eastern Canada was getting even colder conditions, with lows on either side of 10 predicted for Montreal and Toronto.

As a Gulf Coast trader had expected, Tuesday’s rise of 13.7 cents in February futures was able to boost cash prices “a little bit” Wednesday — but just barely. The market-supporting frigid weather of recent weeks was becoming just a memory for many people; although lows around freezing or less remained in the forecasts for much of the East through the Midwest and Plains into the Rockies and most of Canada, they were considered a return to “seasonable” conditions for mid-January.