Essentially

With its restructuring efforts essentially complete, El Paso Corp. has simplified its corporate structure and renamed its production holding company to El Paso Exploration & Production Co. to reflect a stronger focus on producing domestic oil and natural gas. Lisa Stewart, president of El Paso Production and Non-regulated Operations, will continue to lead the unit.

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said Friday that he reached a settlement agreement with SEMCO Energy and Michigan Consolidated Gas (MichCon) essentially delaying and spreading out gas cost increases over succeeding months for 1.5 million natural gas customers. Cox said it would cut customers winter bills by 75%. He continues to challenge Consumers Energy and Aquila’s proposed monthly increases of $42 to $56.60 on customers’ winter heating bills.

Outgoing Chairman Pat Wood essentially passed the baton, sizzling hot from heavy use, to his successor-in-waiting, Commissioner Joseph T. Kelliher, at the close of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s open meeting Thursday.

Energy Resource Technology Inc. (ERT), a subsidiary of Houston-based Cal Dive International Inc., said Monday it has acquired “essentially all” of Murphy Oil Corp.’s Gulf of Mexico Shelf properties for $200 million.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) last Tuesday essentially scrapped the quarterly rate revision for the winter because of declining gas costs, ordering Columbia Gas of Ohio and Dominion East Ohio to file new rates for December by Nov. 24 to reflect the actual cost of natural gas for December and to file new rates for January seven days before the expiration of December rates.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Tuesday essentially scrapped the quarterly rate revision for the winter because of declining gas costs, ordering Columbia Gas of Ohio and Dominion East Ohio to file new rates for December by Nov. 24 to reflect the actual cost of natural gas for December and new rates for January seven days before the expiration of December rates.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Tuesday essentially scrapped the quarterly rate revision for the winter because of declining gas costs, ordering Columbia Gas of Ohio and Dominion East Ohio to file new rates for December by Nov. 24 to reflect the actual cost of natural gas for December and new rates for January seven days before the expiration of December rates.

Except for a few essentially flat points in Appalachia and the Gulf Coast, the two-day bullish streak in the general cash market ended Thursday. Several Northeast citygates measured declines in triple-digit amounts, while elsewhere losses tended to range from about a nickel to nearly 90 cents. Traders cited approaching breaks, however small, from the icy conditions that have plagued markets across the northern U.S. and Canada — and even down into the Southeast — over the past few days as chiefly responsible for the price reversals.

Except for an essentially flat Northern California market, cash prices continued to move higher Wednesday. Colder northern weather, including snow in some cases, either setting in already or due later this week was cited as the primary factor sustaining market firmness.