Hindered

Natural gas last year expanded its share of the global energy mix even though demand growth was hindered by a weak economy in Europe, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which said the United States was a standout among gas-producing countries.

Canada’s First Nations on Wednesday protested across the country — blocking railways, border crossings, and in some places hindered access to oil and natural gas facilities — to protest the federal government’s passage last month of an omnibus budget bill that altered the rules for leasing tribal lands.

Will ethane production from shale plays in Appalachia support all of the ethane projects proposed for the region?

Hindered by absorbing $3.4 billion in pre-tax charges during the fourth quarter due to actions taken to reduce exposure to merchant generation and international businesses, Duke Energy reported a 2003 net loss of $1.3 billion, or ($1.48) per share, compared to net income of $1 billion, or $1.22 per share in 2002. For the fourth quarter, Duke Energy posted a $2 billion loss, or ($2.23) per share, compared to a $52 million loss, or ($0.06) per share in fourth quarter 2002.

Hindered by absorbing $3.4 billion in pre-tax charges during the fourth quarter due to actions taken to reduce exposure to merchant generation and international businesses, Duke Energy on Thursday reported a 2003 net loss of $1.3 billion, or ($1.48) per share, compared to net income of $1 billion, or $1.22 per share in 2002. For the fourth quarter, Duke Energy posted a $2 billion loss, or ($2.23) per share, compared to a $52 million loss, or ($0.06) per share in fourth quarter 2002.

Idacorp’s efforts to unwind the power marketing operations may be hindered after the company acknowledged last week that FERC is considering regulatory action for some marketing transactions between subsidiaries Idacorp Energy and Idaho Power. Apparently, they did not have regulatory approval for some power trading transactions, and also had not gotten formal approval to transfer power contracts. Idacorp said it did not know what sanctions it might face, nor what effect the actions might have on earnings.

FERC last Wednesday rejected assertions made by a collection of generators that Entergy Corp. has effectively hindered wholesale competition by preventing independent power producers (IPPs) from being able to self-supply their imbalance requirements in a fashion similar to what Entergy does for its own generation resources.