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Enterprise Products Partners LP, the second largest publicly-traded midstream energy partnership in the country, reported a strong increase in demand for its energy services in the first quarter, with net income rising to $58.5 million (23 cents/unit), compared with $40.5 million (19 cents) a year earlier.

By the weekend, warmer temperatures eased concerns among the Pacific Northwest utilities hit by record demand and thousands of outages in the wake of a freezing Arctic storm that drove through the region at the beginning of the week. In the eastern portion of the state of Washington, a spokesperson for Avista Utilities said Friday the weather was “beautiful,” and the area had avoided the potential fall-out from freezing rain that can ice up power lines causing them to sag or come down from the extra weight as happened in the western portion of the state and Oregon.

Buoyed by plummeting mercury levels in the eastern half of the country, the natural gas futures market continued on its meteoric rise Tuesday as speculative traders headed for the exits. However, in contrast to Monday’s session, the price action Tuesday was anything but straight-line, with the market having to work its way back from a midday sell-off.

Pressured by forecasts for mild weather across much of the country, the natural gas futures market tumbled lower Monday as traders completely rescinded Friday’s gains.

With the high cost of natural gas a major customer concern across the country as the nation approaches the winter heating season, Vectren Corp. informed its utility customers that although higher gas prices are in store, gas bills might be lower than last year due to milder temperatures.

With the high cost of natural gas continuing to be a major customer concern across the country as the nation approaches the winter heating season, Vectren Corp. informed its utility customers that although higher gas prices are in store, gas bills might be lower than last year due to milder temperatures.

While taking somewhat different sides regarding what areas of the country will be warm over the next few months, forecasting firms Weather 2000 and AccuWeather Inc. agree that the Southeast and South Central areas of the United States probably are in for an active September as far as tropical storm/hurricane activity is concerned.

Buoyed by forecasts for a warm-up in key eastern areas of the country and in concert with supportive technical factors, natural gas futures were higher Monday morning on a mix of fund short-covering and commercial trader buying. The September contract received the biggest boost, soaring to a new, one-month high of $5.22 just before noon. Afternoon profit-taking trimmed the market’s advance, leaving the prompt month to close at $5.129, up 9.2 cents for the session.

Cash prices inched a few cents higher across most of the country Friday in response to the rebound of gas futures above $5 on Thursday and slightly higher daily power prices. However, western spot points eased a few cents, and current western cash came more in line with forward prices, possibly allowing western storage injections to pick up steam.