Good

While federal regulators may be a bit “bearish” on natural gas pipeline projects, that’s a good thing, according to PG&E Gas Transmission Northwest, which is still waiting for its final okay from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on environmental safeguards for its certificated 2002 pipeline expansion in Idaho and a small part of Washington state. It expects the final, final okay by the end of this week.

The implementation of price-cap proposals intended to aid California’s beleaguered wholesale electricity markets could lead to a significant rise in the number of power outages in the state this summer by reducing available generating supplies, according to a new report issued by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Policy. It warned that a $150/MWh “hard cap,” which some Capitol Hill lawmakers had endorsed, could idle as much as 3,600 MW of natural gas-fired capacity in California, depending on the price of natural gas this summer.

The implementation of price-cap proposals intended to aid California’s beleaguered wholesale electricity markets could lead to a significant rise in the number of power outages in the state this summer by reducing available generating supplies, according to a new report issued by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Policy. It warned that a $150/MWh “hard cap,” which some Capitol Hill lawmakers had endorsed, could idle as much as 3,600 MW of natural gas-fired capacity in California, depending on the price of natural gas this summer.

If you trade natural gas, yesterday was a good day to be glued to your chair. Approximately eight minutes ahead of its scheduled 2 p.m. EDT release, the American Gas Association reported that a whopping 106 Bcf was added to underground storage facilities during the week ending June 15, bringing working gas in storage levels to 49% full at 1,609 Bcf. Futures reacted instantly, tumbling 15 cents to $3.75 just 10 minutes after the report was released. The prompt July contract would never recover from the initial selling surge and finished 24.7 cents lower at $3.734.

Duke Energy late Wednesday confirmed that it has proposed a “good faith” preliminary global settlement designed to help solve California’s ongoing energy crisis and urged Gov. Gray Davis to take a hard look at the initiatives the company has put forward. Key elements of Duke’s proposed settlement include a willingness by the company to build new supply in the state without taxpayers having to foot the bill and resolution of all pending lawsuits and investigations into Duke’s pricing activities.

The first quarter 2001 was a good time to be in the energy business, as one after another of the industry stalwarts attested in earnings reports released Tuesday. Duke Energy followed on upbeat reports earlier from Enron, Dynegy and Reliant Energy with its own 51% increase in earnings per share — from 49 cents/share in 1Q 2000 to 74 cents/share in the quarter just ended. Including one-time charges, Duke’s basic earnings for first quarter 2001 were 61 cents per share — up 15% versus the 53 cents reported in the first quarter of last year.

The market went into the long Good Friday/Easter weekend Thursday with the anticipated softness associated with generally mild weather and the typical demand slump of a holiday period. Activity and volatility were noticeably quieter than usual, several traders said.

Duke Energy North America (DENA) is making good on its promiseto bring a significant amount of new electricity generation onlineby summer 2002. Yesterday the company broke ground on itspreviously announced Arlington Valley Energy Facility located inMaricopa County, AZ (see Daily GPI, Feb. 8).

The good news is the lights are still on in California. But WallStreet will be watching closely this week as California legislatorson one coast and the Clinton Administration on the other attempt tostop the train wreck in the California power market and rescue thetraditional “widow and orphans” investments in PG&E Corp. andEdison International from the junk pile.