Forcing

Canadian regulators should avoid forcing gas utilities out of the regulated merchant function, according to a new discussion paper by Roland George of consulting firm Purvin and Gertz. “System gas and direct sales gas can co-exist in the retail market,” George said. The paper was released recently by the Conference Board of Canada and Canadian Gas Association (CGA), which represents Canada’s local distribution companies (LDC).

Tennessee Gas Pipeline is forcing producers upstream of its system to pay extra transportation charges unless they utilize its share of the South Pass 77 pipeline, a 500 MMcf/d system jointly owned with Columbia Gulf but operated by Tennessee, Columbia Gulf said.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline is forcing producers upstream of its system to pay extra transportation charges unless they utilize its share of the South Pass 77 pipeline, a 500 MMcf/d system jointly owned with Columbia Gulf but operated by Tennessee, Columbia Gulf said.

A 2-3% decline in North American natural gas production may be forcing industrial and utility consumers to reduce gas consumption this year, according to a report by Lehman Brothers.

With the arrival of a frigid arctic air mass in the East and indications that it will stick around for a while, natural gas consumers should expect “a material increase” from their recent “eye-popping” December and January heating bills, according to UBS Warburg analyst Ron Barone.

Forcing natural gas futures to go on a run in Thursday morning trading, an updated weather forecast from Salomon Smith Barney meteorologist Jon Davis points toward an “Arctic plunge” that is expected to grip most regions of the country in the second week of January.

Forcing Sempra Energy Resources (SER) and other suppliers to renegotiate the long-term electricity contracts that were brokered with California during the state’s energy crisis could jeopardize the very survival of some companies, threaten the development of a strong energy market in the state and result in higher power prices for consumers, energy suppliers told FERC.

So much for the “reality” of fundamental weakness forcing prices into a consolidation period. That had appeared to be the case Thursday, but it was being repudiated in a huge way Friday. Gas quotes for the weekend advanced by 20 cents or more at all points, with the West’s larger gains being driven both by cold weather and sharply higher prices for electricity.

Mirant’s stock price has plunged 60% since the beginning of December forcing the company to take drastic actions to restore investor confidence. Enron’s bankruptcy, Mirant’s credit rating downgrade by Moody’s Investor Services and questions about its accounting practices all have played a role in the collapse of its stock.