Feeling

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is feeling the pressure from high natural gas wholesale prices and consumers will have to pay, parent company CEO Peter Darbee told financial analysts Wednesday during a quarterly earnings conference call.

With Americans “feeling the squeeze of rising prices at the pump,” President Bush Monday issued an executive order removing the executive ban on oil and natural gas drilling in much of the federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Electricity providers around the country, already feeling the sting of abnormally high natural gas prices, are bracing for prices to climb to even loftier levels next year. At the same time they said they don’t anticipate blackouts this summer or Congress passing climate-change legislation.

Electricity providers around the country, already feeling the sting of abnormally high natural gas prices, are bracing for prices to climb to even loftier levels next year. At the same time they said they don’t anticipate blackouts this summer or Congress passing climate-change legislation.

Feeling the pinch as energy, feedstock and transportation costs continue to rise at staggering rates, chemical manufacturing giant Dow Chemical Co. said that as of June 1 it will raise the price of all of its products by up to 20% — depending on their exposure to the various rising costs — and will review all terms to all customers.

He didn’t crow about it, but Keith Rattie, CEO of Rockies producer Questar Corp., had to be feeling vindicated, at least, addressing the Wachovia Securities 2007 Liquefied Natural Gas Conference in Houston last week.

He didn’t crow about it, but Keith Rattie, CEO of Rockies producer Questar Corp., had to be feeling vindicated, at least, addressing the Wachovia Securities 2007 Liquefied Natural Gas Conference in Houston Tuesday.

A few citygates in the Northeast, which was still feeling the effects of a “Nor’easter” storm that battered much of the East Coast over the weekend, managed to range from flat to up 20 cents Monday. They were in a distinct minority, though. Other cash points continued to move lower due to dwindling heating load and the residual impact of Friday’s 12.3-cent decline by May futures.

Most market areas were still feeling the sting of winter chill Monday, but forecasts for moderating weather trends this week took prices lower at all points. Cash quotes also were depressed by last Friday’s 42.2-cent dive in January futures.