Forced

High natural gas prices have forced a number of sugar beet plant closures and may force the shut down of the entire sugar beet industry in Wyoming despite the abnormally low gas prices there relative to the rest of the country, according to testimony prepared for a hearing this week of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Natural gas consumers in the future could be forced to pay more in winter heating bills if the trend toward overreliance on gas as their fuel of choice continues, according to a study released Wednesday by Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC). The non-profit group, based in Alexandria, VA, is primarily funded by the U.S. coal-based electricity industry.

Natural gas consumers in the future could be forced to pay more in winter heating bills if the trend toward overreliance on gas as their fuel of choice continues, according to a study released Wednesday by Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC). The non-profit group, based in Alexandria, VA, is primarily funded by the U.S. coal-based electricity industry.

El Paso Corp. could be forced to pay out more than $75 million in severance benefits if disgruntled investors, Selim K. Zilkha and Oscar S. Wyatt, succeed in replacing the company’s existing board of directors with their own slate of candidates at the upcoming stockholders meeting in June.

El Paso Corp. could be forced to pay out more than $75 million in severance benefits if disgruntled investors, Selim K. Zilkha and Oscar S. Wyatt, succeed in replacing the company’s existing board of directors with their own slate of candidates at the upcoming stockholders meeting in June.

Soaring wholesale gas prices this winter have forced two Maryland retail gas marketers to cut services to some or all of their customers. The Maryland Office of Peoples Counsel (OPC) has issued a consumer alert regarding the gas suppliers, Maryland Natural Gas & Electric/Operators Energy Services and ACN Energy.

Forecasters finally are saying that Old Man Winter soon may be forced into retirement, and that news brought gas futures bears out of their caves on Monday. April futures staged a sharp reversal, opening 34.2 cents lower Monday morning and ending the day at $6.515, down 47.8 cents.

The financial storm enveloping Aquila Corp. — cuts in its credit rating to below investment grade, forced asset sales, restructuring of its operations and widespread federal investigations into its trading — will have “possible negative impacts” on the company’s regulated natural gas distribution facilities and power utilities in Missouri, but an immediate rate hike doesn’t appear to be in the cards for customers, according to a Missouri Public Service Commission staff report.

Tropical Storm Fay, simmering off the Texas and Louisiana coasts Friday, remained stationary and appeared to be organizing slightly, and a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning remained in effect from Intracoastal City, LA to Port Aransas, TX late Friday.