Gain

Duke Energy reported earnings of $388 million for first quarter2000, up 28% from $302 million, excluding an extraordinary gain,for first quarter 1999. Revenues for the quarter increased 73% overthe prior-year quarter to $7.2 billion, due to strong performancein key business segments.

Last week’s announcement by Montana Power that it is getting outof the energy utility business may be the start of a new push toseparate electric transmission and distribution, with an increasein merchant transmission proposals, spurred by both shareholdersand regulators of the utilities, according to one of the nation’sfirst merchant power transmission companies. U.S. electrictransmission systems collectively represent a $70 to $90 billionset of assets.

Last week’s announcement by Montana Power that it is getting outof the energy utility business may be the start of a new push toseparate electric transmission and distribution, with an increasein merchant transmission proposals, spurred by both shareholdersand regulators of the utilities, according to one of the nation’sfirst merchant power transmission companies. U.S. electrictransmission systems collectively represent a $70 to $90 billionset of assets.

For the second trading session in a row Monday the Aprilcontract opened at 2.81, but in contrast to the price fallexperienced last Friday, prices spiked higher at the open yesterdayand quickly tested life-of-contract highs. However, severalattempts to punch through the $2.88 level failed and that left themarket with an 8.6 cent advance and a $2.86 closing price.

The groundhog must have chewed a hole into a CNG storagefacility, judging from the massive withdrawal that the American GasAssociation reported last week. At 242 Bcf, the withdrawal ranks asthe third largest since AGA started its survey six years ago. Itwas the largest for the last week in January.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved Columbia Gasof Pennsylvania’s restructuring settlement, making the company thefirst to gain commission approval under the guidelines set forththis summer in the Natural Gas Choice and Competition Act. Thesettlement, which included 26 parties, allows Columbia to advanceits choice program, expand its customer assistance program (CAP)statewide, and provide telephonic and Internet enrollment.

Marketers are making a last-ditch attempt at establishing abeachhead for fair and open competition in the retail energy marketin Massachusetts. They lost a battle earlier this year whenregulators voted to allow utilities to assign portions of upstreamgas transportation and storage capacity to customers who wereseeking alternative suppliers. Marketers now hope they can persuaderegulators to establish a set of minimum standards for utilitytransportation service, not only for the retail customer, but alsofor the new utility customer, i.e., the retail marketer, as well.

Marketers are making a last-ditch attempt at establishing abeachhead for fair and open competition in the retail energy marketin Massachusetts. They lost a battle earlier this year whenregulators voted to allow utilities to assign portions of upstreamgas transportation and storage capacity to customers who wereseeking alternative suppliers. Marketers now hope they can persuaderegulators to establish a set of minimum standards for utilitytransportation service, not only for the retail customer, but alsofor the new utility customer, i.e., the retail marketer, as well.

Riding a wave of bullish emotion, natural gas futures continuedhigher Friday despite forecasts of warming weather expected thisweek. After checking lower at $3.03, the November contract receiveda steady boost of buying pressure from commercials and speculatorsthat enabled prices to push above $3.10 in the early afternoon. Butjust when it looked as if the prompt month would finish the weeknear its high, a late round of pre-weekend profit-taking droveprices down to settle at $3.072, a net-0.8 cent advance on the day.