Danger

Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the giant San Francisco, CA-basedutility branch of PG&E Corp., acknowledged Tuesday that it isin danger of running short of gas supplies later this winter due tothe venerable utility’s electricity-induced credit woes spillingover to its natural gas operations. “Most” of the company’s 30 to40 interstate gas suppliers are refusing to sell to the giantutility beyond existing contract terms, some of which expire withina few weeks, according to a PG&E utility spokesperson.

Despite the danger of a consumer backlash to soaring energyprices this winter and the potential for reregulation, the CEO ofThe New Power Company, the self-proclaimed first national retailenergy marketing company, believes the future is bright for hiscompany as it enters its first winter in operation.

With gas prices near $5/MMBtu, oil above $30/bbl and powerprices spiking 700% in Southern California this summer, the signsof struggle in the energy sector are clear. It’s the requiredresponse that still seems a little cloudy.

With gas prices near $5/MMBtu, oil above $30/bbl and powerprices spiking 700% in Southern California this summer, the signsof struggle in the energy sector are clear. It’s the requiredresponse that still seems a little cloudy.

Market access issues are becoming a major challenge fortransmission and distribution markets, which face unprecedentedgrowth and increased deliveries, and while it’s still unclear as towho will be willing to finance and construct the required newfacilities, a huge capital investment has to be made just to meetdemand, an industry analyst said last week.

Market access issues are becoming a major challenge fortransmission and distribution markets, which face unprecedentedgrowth and increased deliveries, and while it’s still unclear as towho will be willing to finance and construct the required newfacilities, a huge capital investment has to be made just to meetdemand, an industry analyst said yesterday.

Although rumors that Energy America was in imminent danger ofloosing its marketer license in New Jersey proved untrue, theSempra Energy affiliate will have to go before the state’s Board ofPublic Utilities (BPU) this week to defend itself against claims ofunfair and unlawful marketing activities. According to the BPU,more than 350 complaints have been levied against Energy America asit tries to sign electric customers in New Jersey’snewly-deregulated electric market.

The strong corrective rebound of the April contract seemed indanger of coming to an end yesterday morning when the contract setnew lows for the week at $1.835, but April held and quickly resumedits upward path in afternoon trade to post a new high at $1.930 andclose the day at $1.928/MMBtu.