Emphasized

Given the growing uncertainty concerning an idle nuclear power plant in Southern California, state energy officials Wednesday emphasized the quick response to power load spikes of a new natural gas-fired peaking plant that they approved unanimously.

SM Energy Co. raised its guidance for 2011 and introduced plans for 2012 that surpass what analysts were expecting as company executives emphasized a sharpened focus on the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas.

SM Energy Co. raised its guidance for 2011 and introduced plans for 2012 that surpass what analysts were expecting as company executives emphasized a sharpened focus on the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas.

In acknowledgment of the weak economy and drilling cutbacks by producers, Spectra Energy Corp. executives last Thursday emphasized the insulation from commodity price fluctuations enjoyed by the company’s fee-based processing businesses, and they noted that 80% of Spectra customers have investment-grade credit ratings.

In acknowledgment of the weak economy and drilling cutbacks by producers, Spectra Energy Corp. executives Thursday emphasized the insulation from commodity price fluctuations enjoyed by the company’s fee-based processing businesses, and they noted that 80% of Spectra customers have investment-grade credit ratings.

Although one hurdle has been cleared from the path of the C$7 billion Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline, many remain, project sponsors emphasized last week following an economic development deal signed by the Canadian government and the Deh Cho First Nations. The deal resolved one of the major issues preventing development of the long proposed project.

Although one hurdle has been cleared from the path of the C$7 billion Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline, many remain, project sponsors emphasized. The economic development deal signed by the Canadian government and the Deh Cho First Nations resolved only one of the major issues preventing development of the long proposed project (see Daily GPI, July 12).

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) re-emphasized yesterdaythat it would be willing to arrange its 1.2 million customers’ paymentoptions to accommodate for the above normal electricity prices fromthe California Power Exchange. SDG&E announced it would not shutanybody’s power off for failure to pay through the remainder of thesummer through October. The utility also announced that it would notreport any of its customers to credit agencies during this period oradd late charges. Customers are encouraged to contact SDG&E to setup a flexible payment plan. Customers can call 1-800-411-SDGE or visitthe website, www.sdge.com

Prices continued to weaken at nearly all points Tuesday in boththe incremental and October bidweek markets. Offshore supplies wereslow in returning from hurricane-related outages, but tradersseemed to discount that factor and to depend on abundant gaselsewhere to take up the slack. They also observed that weather andstorage fundamentals remain weak.