Cautions

The United States’ expectations that liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be the “savior” for its gas supply problems may be too high, said a top official with American Electric Power (AEP) Tuesday.

As FERC mulls possible changes to its approach in examining generation market power in the electric industry, the Commission must not put on blinders and simply focus only on possible unilateral exercises of market power, a top official with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said last week.

Despite continued declines from the once prolific Ladyfern field, Canadian Natural Resources achieved higher natural gas production and set a record for gas sales in the second quarter, with credit given to its successful exploitation program in Northwest Alberta. However, an Alberta regulatory requirement to shut in some gas production beginning Sept. 1 will drop the independent’s gas production at least 15-20 MMcf/d, with another 5-10 MMcf/d loss possible, depending on an appeal now being sought by the company.

A study released last week by Santa Monica, CA-based Rand Science and Technology raised a caution flag for California becoming overly reliant on natural gas-fired electric generation, which it said could add to the risk of more volatile and rising gas prices. Assuming under current plans that the state’s natural gas use could double by 2010, the report advocates a “balanced portfolio” approach to the state’s future energy planning that will minimize risks of supply/price volatility.

A study released Wednesday by Santa Monica, CA-based Rand Science and Technology raised a caution flag for California becoming overly reliant on natural gas-fired electric generation, which it said could add to the risk of more volatile and rising gas prices. Assuming under current plans that the state’s natural gas use could double by 2010, the report advocates a “balanced portfolio” approach to the state’s future energy planning that will minimize risks of supply/price volatility.

A study released Wednesday by Santa Monica, CA-based Rand Science and Technology raised a caution flag for California becoming overly reliant on natural gas-fired electric generation, which it said could add to the risk of more volatile and rising gas prices. Assuming under current plans that the state’s natural gas use could double by 2010, the report advocates a “balanced portfolio” approach to the state’s future energy planning that will minimize risks of supply/price volatility.

Senate repeal of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act (CFMA), which would subject trading of over-the-counter energy derivatives to greater regulatory oversight, “would rescind significant advances” that have been brought about by the 14-month-old law, and in the end could accelerate flight to overseas markets, warned the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Senate repeal of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act (CFMA), which would subject trading of over-the-counter energy derivatives to greater regulatory oversight, “would rescind significant advances” that have been brought about by the 14-month-old law, and in the end could accelerate the flight to overseas markets, warned the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Some Capitol Hill lawmakers and energy experts believe theUnited States may be setting itself for another energy crisis 10 to20 years down the road by relying to heavily on natural gas to fuelnew power generation facilities.