Considerably

More growth of cooling load, with an especially dramatic boost due Friday in the lower Northeast, along with continuing prior-day futures support rallied cash prices at most points Thursday. The exceptions were flat to about a dime lower quotes at several locations, primarily in the West and Midcontinent.

With natural gas storage at the end of the winter heating season considerably lower than expected, the natural gas bears at Raymond James & Associates Inc. have switched sides and are again running with the bulls through 2008. Two other energy analysts also raised their gas price forecasts through the rest of the year.

With natural gas storage at the end of the winter heating season considerably lower than expected, the natural gas bears at Raymond James & Associates Inc. have switched sides and are again running with the bulls through 2008. Two other energy analysts also raised their gas price forecasts through the rest of the year.

Considerably lighter in debt and megawatts, San Jose, CA-based Calpine Corp. Thursday emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, closing its $7.3 billion exit financing facility, including a $300 million bridge loan the reorganized independent power plant developer/operator expects to pay off by the end of the first quarter.

Is the glass half empty or half full? One energy consultant last week said the end-of-year natural gas price outlook improved “considerably” over the past month following several “hot” weeks, and the falling gas storage levels combined with high fuel oil prices will offer a higher “price umbrella” for gas. Another well-known gas price prognosticator said a weather-driven surge may raise prices toward year’s end but advised investors to stick with an oil-weighted strategy .

The end-of-year natural gas price outlook has improved “considerably” over the past month following several “hot” weeks, and the gas storage surplus should begin the final quarter of 2007 with gas storage 60 Bcf lower than year-ago levels and fuel oil prices offering a higher “price umbrella,” an energy consultant said Thursday.

The Senate passed comprehensive energy legislation (HR 6) late Thursday that is considerably more attractive to oil and natural gas producers and electric utilities than it was a few hours earlier that day.

The Senate passed comprehensive energy legislation (HR 6) late Thursday that is considerably more attractive to oil and natural gas producers and electric utilities than it was a few hours earlier that day.

The Senate passed comprehensive energy legislation (HR 6) late Thursday that is considerably more attractive to oil and natural gas producers and electric utilities than it was a few hours earlier that day.