Dearth

As expected (see Daily GPI, Oct. 21), all of the cash market succumbed Friday to a bearish storage report, prior-day futures weakness, a dearth of weather-based demand and a weekend slump in industrial load. Price drops ranged from about 20 cents to more than a dollar. The biggest declines were concentrated in the Midcontinent and West.

Predictably, cash numbers emulated the expiration-day plunge in May futures by taking swan dives themselves Thursday. A widespread dearth of significant weather-related demand only threw more fuel on the price fire sale, and the announcement of a sizeable storage injection heaped on a little extra bearishness in late business.

A general dearth of weather support kept downward pressure on cash prices Tuesday, with across-the-board declines ranging from a little under a nickel to nearly a quarter; most were in the teens. A moderate rally in July natural gas futures, in sympathy with strong performances by Nymex’s oil-related products, was not expected to be sufficient to overcome bearish fundamentals, so look for more softness Wednesday.

The previous day’s screen weakness, along with a dearth of weather-related load outside the interior West and western portions of the South, were cited as Wednesday’s chief swing price depressants. Except for flat to substantially higher numbers for a few Rockies points, San Juan Basin and Southern California border, quotes fell by anywhere from about a nickel to a quarter Wednesday. Losses in the teens were most common.

As traders had expected, the above-expectations storage injection report and a continuing dearth of heating load in nearly all areas outside the mountain West resulted in softening prices at all point Friday. Of course, the usual dip in demand over a weekend also played some part.

Prices fell Thursday in the wake of a large storage injection report and a continuing dearth of air conditioning load. Volumes and trading activity remained minimal in the absence of futures guidance, and sources reported that the feelings of grief and numbness from the attacks against New York City’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon were slow in dissipating.

Although there remains a dearth of retail electricity choice in Ohio, residents can take some comfort in knowing that they are protected by a wide range of consumer standards, and that the state will not ignore attempts to abuse Ohio’s evolving energy marketplace, according to a new report issued last Tuesday by the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

Although there remains a dearth of retail electricity choice in Ohio, residents can take some comfort in knowing that they are protected by a wide range of consumer standards, and that the state will not ignore attempts to abuse Ohio’s evolving energy marketplace, according to a new report issued Tuesday by the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

The natural gas futures market made it a ‘perfect ten’ yesterdayby trading within a tight 14-cent range for the tenth consecutivetrading session. The August contract showed promise early, racingout to a strong start and posting a $2.239 high. That, however,would be the best the market could do Tuesday. It then wilted underselling pressure in the afternoon. The prompt month finished at$2.198, down 0.9 on the day.