Escalating

In an effort to recover escalating gas costs, PPL Utilities ofAllentown, PA, has asked Pennsylvania regulators to increase thegas supply charge for customers served by its two gas distributors- PFG Gas Inc. and North Penn Gas Co.

The 50 largest U.S. oil and natural gas producers reported afive-fold increase in net profits during 1999, spurred byescalating oil and gas prices and lower operating costs, accordingto a new analysis by the energy research firm of John S. HeroldInc.

Competition has arrived in Canadian gas transportation, but onlya case that is escalating into a big one before the National EnergyBoard will tell who gets what out of the changed pipeline grid.The battle — now heating up on paper, to be followed by hearingsbeginning Jan. 18 — is over a proposal to establish minimum,”reserve” or floor prices for excess deliveries by TransCanadaPipeLines Ltd.Round one has already been won by the pipeline’scustomers. After receiving strongly-worded protests, the NEBrejected an appeal by TransCanada to adopt floor prices effectiveNov. 1 or the start of the new gas contract year and heatingseason.

Competition has arrived in Canadian gas transportation, but onlya case that is escalating into a big one before the National EnergyBoard will tell who gets what out of the changed pipeline grid.The battle — now heating up on paper, to be followed by hearingsbeginning Jan. 18 — is over a proposal to establish minimum,”reserve” or floor prices for excess capacity on TransCanadaPipeLines Ltd.Round one has already been won by the pipeline’scustomers. After receiving strongly-worded protests, the NEBrejected an appeal by TransCanada to adopt floor prices effectiveNov. 1 or the start of the new gas contract year and heatingseason.

Analysts are escalating their spot gas price forecasts but it’snot the oft-cited storage fill that’s driving them.

Analysts are escalating their spot gas price forecasts, but it’snot the oft-cited storage fill that’s driving them.