Efficiency

Gas customers in metro Chicago and area suburbs both have been reducing the amount of gas they burn through conservation and energy efficiency measures, and the utilities are in the early stages in considering how they might make up for lost volumetric-based revenue.

The era of cheap natural gas is over, most would say. Talk of a 32 Tcf market by 2015 has been supplanted, in part, by a growing debate over how best to encourage efficiency and conservation among consumers.

End-users of natural gas are on the same page with much of the rest of the industry, seeking increased supply, more price certainty and stepped-up efficiency/conservation programs, according to an industry panel Thursday representing the industrial, utility and energy service sectors at GasMart in Denver. The panelists examined the topic of “End Users in a High-Priced Environment.”

Merrillville, IN-based NiSource Inc. announced Tuesday that it expects to save about $530 million in operating and capital costs and make new efficiency gains and operating improvements over the 10-year term of a new outsourcing and business transformation agreement with IBM. The outsourcing contract is valued at about $1.6 billion.

The inherent vulnerability of the Pacific Northwest’s energy infrastructure to terrorist attack is a strong reason to expand energy efficiency and conservation programs to lessen the general public’s dependence on centralized oil, natural gas and electricity supply sources, according to the Seattle-based Northwest Environment Watch, a research organization, in its annual report released earlier this month.

The inherent vulnerability of the Pacific Northwest’s energy infrastructure to terrorist attack is a strong reason to expand energy efficiency and conservation programs to lessen the general public’s dependence on centralized oil, natural gas and electricity supply sources, according to the Seattle-based Northwest Environment Watch, a research organization, in its annual report released earlier this month.

On the backs of strong drilling results and operational efficiency, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. posted record annual net earnings of C$1.4 billion, or C$10.48 per share, compared with C$0.6 billion, or C$4.46 per share in 2002.

On the backs of strong drilling results and operational efficiency, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. posted record annual net earnings of C$1.4 billion, or C$10.48 per share, compared with C$0.6 billion, or C$4.46 per share in 2002.

Citing “seasonal efficiency adjustments,” NOVA said it woulddecrease its target linepack by about 177 MMcf in gradualincrements by May 29.