Ended

Just one month after it ended a major reporting requirement for sellers of natural gas to the California market, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered all sellers of gas and electricity to western states to report their short- and long-term wholesale sale transactions for 2000 and 2001. The agency has threatened to take “appropriate enforcement action,” including issuing subpoenas, against companies that fail to respond.

Just one month after it ended a major reporting requirement for sellers of natural gas to the California market, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered all sellers of gas and electricity to western states to report their short- and long-term wholesale sale transactions for 2000 and 2001. The agency has threatened to take “appropriate enforcement action,” including issuing subpoenas, against companies that fail to respond.

Bulls staged a surprising 9.4% rally in March futures to a high on Friday of $2.21 from Wednesday’s low of $2.02. March ended Friday up 4.1 cents to $2.191, slightly off its daily high and 2.6 cents from its $2.165 low, leaving many observers on the edges of their seats wondering if the large number of speculative shorts would reconsider their exposure and propel the market into the $2.20s and possibly $2.30s.

Northern Natural Gas ended a System Overrun Limitation notice Tuesday after it had been in effect for two days.

Williams ended a rocky week Friday with two major credit ratings agencies split on how to evaluate its obligations to its spin-off, Williams Communications Group (WCG), and at least five class action lawsuits filed claiming it misrepresented those obligations. Late Friday Moody’s Investors Service confirmed the ratings of the parent company (WMB, Baa2 senior unsecured) and its subsidiaries. Moody’s also confirmed the Baa3 debt rating of Williams Communications Group (WCG) Note Trust, a third-party special purpose vehicle to which Williams has a contingent obligation. In addition Moody’s said the rating outlook for both entities are stable.

Northern Natural Gas ended a System Overrun Limitation notice for all market-area zones Saturday after it had been in effect for four days.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has enjoined the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from enforcing its open-ended reporting requirement on natural gas pipelines operating offshore, ruling that the agency far exceeded its authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) when it took this action nearly two years ago.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has enjoined the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from enforcing its open-ended reporting requirement on natural gas pipelines operating offshore, ruling that the agency far exceeded its authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) when it took this action nearly two years ago.

Florida Gas Transmission ended an Overage Alert Day notice for its market area Saturday after the notice had been in effect 10 straight days.