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A state district court judge in Billings, MT, upheld state water quality standards that had been challenged by coalbed methane (CBM) producers. Conservation groups claimed “a major legal victory” while at least one producer said it was in compliance and no changes to operations would be necessary.

The Mullen Group Income Fund, which is based in Calgary, said Friday it will begin laying off up to 100 employees at several of its oilfield services units because of the uncertainty related to oil and natural gas drilling activity in Alberta.

Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) will pay $2,000 to the Missouri public school fund and will implement new procedures under an agreement approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to resolve a July staff complaint alleging PSC rules violations in connection with a natural gas explosion and fire in Blue Springs, MO, in January.

The joint powers authority financing arm for public power in Southern California received an “AA-” credit rating for its $511.5 million revenue bonds to fund an aggressive long-term natural gas purchase program for five munis, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Fitch Ratings gave the offering a stable outlook. Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) will use the proceeds to acquire a 30-year natural gas supply from J. Aron & Co., including five nearly identical prepaid gas sales agreements with the SCPPA municipal utilities involved. The bonds are expected to be priced soon with Goldman Sachs as the sole manager, Fitch said. As the tax-exempt intermediary in the deal, SCPPA will sell the gas to the five electric munis at a price Fitch described as being equal to the first-of-the-month market index minus a fixed discount pursuant to nearly identical gas supply agreements with each project participant. “The price risk between the prepaid [fixed] price of natural gas paid by SCPPA to J. Aron at the bond closing and the index price that will be received by SCPPA from the project participants over the next 30 years will be hedged by a commodity swap between SCPPA and AIG-FP Broadgate, as described elsewhere,” Fitch said. “In addition, SCPPA will enter into an interest rate swap with J. Aron.

Iowa regulators have approved Black Hills Corp.’s acquisition of Aquila Inc.’s natural gas utility assets and operations in the state, the companies announced last Wednesday.

The Senate passed comprehensive energy legislation (HR 6) late Thursday that is considerably more attractive to oil and natural gas producers and electric utilities than it was a few hours earlier that day.

The Senate passed comprehensive energy legislation (HR 6) late Thursday that is considerably more attractive to oil and natural gas producers and electric utilities than it was a few hours earlier that day.

FERC’s well publicized enforcement actions against failed hedge fund Amaranth Advisors LLC and transporter Energy Transfer Partners in late July should put the rest of the energy industry on notice that the agency is ready and able to take action against bad actors in the industry, said Chairman Joseph Kelliher last Tuesday.

FERC’s well publicized enforcement actions against failed hedge fund Amaranth Advisors LLC and transporter Energy Transfer Partners last week should put regulated energy companies on notice that the agency is ready and able to take action against bad actors in the industry, said Chairman Joseph Kelliher Tuesday.