Fanfare

With maximum fanfare two federal regulatory agencies blew the whistle on Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) and three of its subsidiaries, alleging that they attempted to manipulate physical natural gas prices at the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) delivery hub in the fall of 2005 in Hurricane Rita’s aftermath. The charges against ETP relating to the physical market came at the same time the agencies cited the failed Amaranth hedge fund for allegedly manipulating the natural gas futures market (see related story).

With little fanfare, former Enron Corp. CEO Jeffrey Skilling began serving a 24-year and six-month prison sentence last week at the medium-security Waseca, MN, federal prison after an appeals court denied his request to remain free while he challenges his sentence.

With far less fanfare than the recent signing of global warming legislation, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week signed an extensive energy efficiency bill (AB 2021) and eight other energy measures, but vetoed seven. In total, Schwarzenegger signed 910 measures into law and vetoed 262.

With far less fanfare than the recent signing of global warming legislation, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday and Saturday signed an extensive energy efficiency bill (AB 2021) and eight other energy measures, but vetoed seven. In total, Schwarzenegger signed 910 measures into law and vetoed 262.

Passing without much fanfare, the release of the Energy Information Administration’s natural gas storage report was no match for changing forecasts for Hurricane Ivan’s path. The National Hurricane Center has sharply altered its path projections for the category four hurricane at least three times.

With little fanfare, Enron Corp.’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy was approved Thursday morning by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York.

With little fanfare, following three conference calls over the course of the week, late Friday, Dallas-based TXU Corp. said it would increase its available cash by $2.6 billion by Monday or Tuesday, drawing upon its unsecured bank facilities at TXU US Holdings and TXU Energy.

With little fanfare and against a prevailing perception that private sector energy firms are looking warily at the West, Michigan-based CMS Energy last Wednesday announced it is opening a San Francisco office for its marketing, services and trading businesses, with a new director of western marketing operations, Laird Dyer, who was formerly with Enron and Pacific Gas Transmission in San Francisco.

With little fanfare and against a prevailing perception that private sector energy firms are looking warily at the West, Michigan-based CMS Energy last Wednesday announced it is opening a San Francisco office for its marketing, services and trading businesses, with a new director of western marketing operations, Laird Dyer, who was formerly with Enron and Pacific Gas Transmission in San Francisco.