Fated

A pioneering firm in California’s ill-fated competitive retail electricity market, Costa Mesa, CA-based Commerce Energy Group Inc., finds itself mired in a sea of red ink as it compiles its fiscal 2008 results, selling off a Houston-based energy consulting firm it acquired four years ago after announcing earlier this year that it was cutting about one-third of its work force.

A pioneering firm in California’s ill-fated competitive retail electricity market, Costa Mesa, CA-based Commerce Energy Group Inc., is mired in a sea of red ink as it compiles its fiscal 2008 results, selling off a Houston-based energy consulting firm it acquired four years ago and announcing earlier this year that it was cutting about one-third of its work force.

A pioneering firm in California’s ill-fated competitive retail electricity market, Costa Mesa, CA-based Commerce Energy Group Inc., hired an investment banking unit with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) earlier in September to assess the national energy retailer’s options for selling or partnering with another firm in the industry. A letter and subsequent financial filing by Commerce’s largest shareholder prompted the action.

A pioneering firm in California’s ill-fated competitive retail electricity market, Costa Mesa, CA-based Commerce Energy Group Inc. hired an investment banking unit with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) earlier in September to assess the national energy retailer’s options for selling or partnering with another firm in the industry. A letter and subsequent financial filing by Commerce’s largest shareholder prompted the action.

After enduring an ill-fated Tuesday morning rally to a high of $7.065, April natural gas futures reversed direction in the afternoon to record a $6.885 low before settling at $6.892, down two pennies on the day. Despite the second consecutive sub-$7 settle, some market experts warned that the recent trading behavior, combined with the potential for supportive crude and gas inventory reports over the next two days, could mean that the bulls aren’t out to pasture just yet.

PG&E Corp. released negative financial results for 1999caused by its ill-fated experience with Texas natural gasproperties and signaled further retrenchment with the confirmationit is pursuing a buyer for its energy services operations, whichshowed growing losses last year.

PG&E Corp. released negative financial results for 1999caused by its ill-fated experience with Texas natural gasproperties and signaled further retrenchment with the confirmationit is pursuing a buyer for its energy services operations, whichshowed growing losses last year.

Southern California Gas’ so-far ill-fated attempt to sell asmall metropolitan-based underground storage field is catchingpotential flak from regulators and nearby residents fueled by a36-page report that accuses the nation’s largest natural gasutility of unethical, if not illegal, business practices. Aprehearing conference will be convened June 11 by an administrativelaw judge at the California Public Utilities Commission to begin aninvestigation into the alleged violation the regulatory body’srules.

Southern California Gas’ so far ill-fated attempt to sell asmall metropolitan-based underground storage field is catchingpotential flak from regulators and nearby residents fueled by a36-page report that accuses the nation’s largest natural gasutility of unethical, if not illegal, business practices. Aprehearing conference will be convened June 11 by an administrativelaw judge at the California Public Utilities Commission to begin aninvestigation into the alleged violation of the regulatory body’srules.