Heard

The rumblings of a nasty gas market reversal can be heard loud and clear, said Lehman Brothers analyst Thomas Driscoll in a research note, predicting the current price collapse would continue into the summer.

The rumblings of a nasty gas market reversal can be heard loud and clear, said Lehman Brothers analyst Thomas Driscoll in a research note, predicting the current price collapse would continue into the summer.

In responses to pleas it heard earlier in the month from the nonprofit social service sector, the California Public Utilities Commission Thursday approved added protection for qualified low-income utility customers against this winter’s expected high natural gas costs. The CPUC made significant changes to two of the state’s major low-income customer programs.

FERC last Wednesday held off on releasing a much-anticipated final transmission pricing policy statement in order to further explore and flesh out issues related to passive ownership and independence.

The last gasp of winter may have been heard last Thursday when the Energy Information Administration (EIA) startled market observers by reporting a 9 Bcf net withdrawal from gas storage for the week ending April 4 after two weeks of solid net injections.

Justices at the U.S. Supreme Court last Wednesday heard a divergent mix of opinions as to whether FERC has gone too far or done too little in implementing its groundbreaking Order 888 in which the Commission ordered utilities to open up their interstate transmission facilities.

With the cry for increased natural gas production being heardacross the North America, it’s no wonder that exploration andproduction companies such as Calgary-based Talisman Energy areupping their capital expenditure programs to try and meet demand.The company announced last week it will boost its exploration anddevelopment budget by 44% over year 2000 levels to C$1.7 billion.

With the cry for increased natural gas production being heardacross the North America, it’s no wonder that exploration andproduction companies such as Calgary-based Talisman Energy areupping their capital expenditure programs to try and meet demand.The company announced yesterday that it will boost its explorationand development ÿbudget by 44% over year 2000 levels to C$1.7billion.

Amid persistent questions about supplies and sustained high prices, the Canadian natural gas community heard a reassuring word — it is not an issue in the federal election, and its defenders are armed with answers if critics step forward before the Nov. 27 vote. The good word — and the defense arsenal — came from the National Energy Board, in a 61-page market assessment released as the Canadian campaign entered its second week at the same time as falling thermometers signaled the onset of heating season.