Hurdle

The Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline overcame a significantpolitical hurdle last week, signing an agreement with protestingNova Scotia Indians that smoothes the way for deliveries of 450MMcf/d of Sable Island gas to begin by the end of the year. Theagreement with the Assembly of the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefscovers a wide variety of environmental and socio-economic programsgiving native Indians a head start on industry-related jobs andtraining and ensures that Indians on a Mi’kmaq reserve will be thefirst Atlantic Canadians to receive gas. The National Energy Boardadded its final stamp of approval.

Commissioner Curt Hebert met no resistance yesterday at hisreconfirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and NaturalResources Committee. The panel was scheduled to meet later in theday to approve his reconfirmation to a new five-year term at theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission, and then forward it to thefull Senate for a vote.

Companion Pennsylvania gas deregulation bills for smallcommercial and residential customers appear to be quicklymaneuvering through the state legislative process. The Senateversion is expected to go for a floor vote this week. Meanwhile,the House held hearings on its version of the bill recently andsupporters said the results were positive.

Companion Pennsylvania gas deregulation bills for smallcommercial and residential customers appear to be quicklymaneuvering through the state legislative process. The Senateversion is expected to go for a floor vote next week. Meanwhile,the House held hearings on its version of the bill recently andsupporters said the results were positive.

The Sempra Energy-KN Energy merger leaped its first hurdle last Monday, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cleared it under the Hart Scott Rodino Act. Shareholders from both companies as well as other federal and state regulatory authorities still need to approve the deal.

The Sempra Energy-KN Energy merger leaped its first hurdleMonday, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cleared it under theHart Scott Rodino Act. Shareholders from both companies as well asother federal and state regulatory authorities still need toapprove the deal.

The August Nymex contract may have taken a significant steptoward posting further losses on Friday, but the jury on that isstill out. After August fell below major support at $2.32 Friday,enough buyers stepped in to prevent the spot month from moving anylower than $2.30. That enabled August to settle the day down 4.0cents to $2.309, but more selling could be in store when tradingresumes today. “I think a lot of traders took off early Fridayafternoon, or were simply not interested in putting in fresh openpositions before the weekend,” an analyst commented.