Combination

To create more electricity in the future while emitting less carbon will require a combination of energy sources, “but we believe that increasing the use of natural gas provides the most affordable, most efficient, most immediate and longer-term step in solving this conundrum,” BP America Inc.’s Lamar McKay said Thursday.

As expected, the combination of generally light weather-based demand, further futures softness a day earlier and the extra loss of load associated with a long holiday weekend resulted in lower prices at virtually all points Thursday. Forecasts of mid 90s to 100-degree highs in the south-central U.S. and a warming trend to either side of 80 in the Midwest failed to increase cooling load enough to support the cash market.

The pending combination of the downstream natural gas unit of Constellation Energy with the operations of Australian investment bank Macquarie Group’s Macquarie Cook Energy could create a gas marketer with about 17 Bcf/d of volume, according to company and NGI figures.

Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) went private Friday with the closing of the $7.4 billion transaction between the combination utility’s holding company, Puget Energy, and a consortium of private investor groups led by a North American unit of Australia-based Macquarie. All of the issued and outstanding PSE common shares were purchased for $30/share.

Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) went private Friday with the closing of the $7.4 billion transaction between the combination utility’s holding company, Puget Energy, and a consortium of private investor groups led by a North American unit of Australia-based Macquarie. All of the issued and outstanding PSE common shares were purchased for $30/share.

The pending combination of the downstream natural gas unit of Constellation Energy with the operations of Australian investment bank Macquarie Group’s Macquarie Cook Energy could create a gas marketer with about 17 Bcf/d of volume, according to company and NGI figures.

Due to “dramatic” declines in wholesale gas prices for its Colorado combination utility operations, Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy Tuesday asked state regulators to approve a 14%, or $109 million, retail electric rate decrease effective Oct. 1. Xcel in August asked the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to lower retail residential and small business gas utility rates by 54%.

Northern Border Pipeline Co. has sold Bison Pipeline LLC to TransCanada Pipeline USA Ltd., setting the stage for a possible combination of the Bison Pipeline Project with TransCanada’s proposed Pathfinder Project in order to tap Rockies supplies for midwestern markets.

Northern Border Pipeline Co. has sold Bison Pipeline LLC to TransCanada Pipeline USA Ltd., setting the stage for a possible combination of the Bison Pipeline Project with TransCanada’s proposed Pathfinder Project in order to tap Rockies supplies for midwestern markets.