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The 10-cent spike in March futures in the face of softer holiday weekend demand at most locations was enough to help cash prices manage gains of about a nickel on average and much more in the Northeast, which was expecting severe cold on Saturday and Sunday.

Factoring in the serious financial woes that continue to face its troubled NRG Energy subsidiary, Xcel Energy last week reported that preliminary earnings for 2002 tumbled deep into the red with a sobering net loss of $2 billion, or $5.26 per share, compared with net earnings of $791 million, or $2.30 per share, in 2001.

Ten of Enron Corp.’s former top executives, including Chairman Kenneth Lay, CEO Jeffrey Skilling and CFO Andrew Fastow, now face lawsuits by creditors after the U.S. Bankruptcy Court overseeing the company’s case gave its permission. The lawsuits would be handled in Texas district court.

Gas prices will face upward pressure this winter despite high storage levels, according to the Natural Gas Supply Association, which represents the nation’s largest gas producers. The major factors contributing to the upward pressure include an improving economy, growing demand, particularly from gas-fired power generation, declining production, and a 23-27% drop in well completions.

Gas prices will face upward pressure this winter despite high storage levels, according to the Natural Gas Supply Association, which represents the nation’s largest gas producers. The major factors contributing to the upward pressure include an improving economy, growing demand, particularly from gas-fired power generation, declining production, and a 23-27% drop in well completions.

Consumer unrest in the face of substantial retail power rate increases over the past 12 months throughout Oregon bubbled to the top last week with stronger calls for a consumer-county government spawned effort to buy Portland General Electric Co. (PGE) from its bankrupt parent, Enron Corp. The proposal envisions rolling back rates and turning PGE into a nonprofit utility. However, none of the local government entities has endorsed the proposal at this time.

As several parent companies of the top natural gas pipelines face severe credit and liquidity problems, this could put a major crimp in future plans to bolster the nation’s energy infrastructure, both for gas and electricity, FERC Chairman Pat Wood told Congress Wednesday during a hearing examining energy infrastructure issues.

As several parent companies of the top natural gas pipelines face severe credit and liquidity problems, this could put a major crimp in future plans to bolster the nation’s energy infrastructure, both for gas and electricity, FERC Chairman Pat Wood told Congress Wednesday during a hearing examining energy infrastructure issues.

FERC will review costs and revenues for Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline in hearings initiated under section 5 of the Natural Gas Act, according to an order voted out at the Commission’s meeting last Wednesday.