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In a topsy-turvy session that left both bull and bear searching for answers, natural gas futures slipped lower Thursday as traders took profits following Wednesday’s shocking storage news and resultant 37.4-cent advance. At the closing bell yesterday, the September contract was 10.1 cents lower at $3.367.

To ensure that people don’t get left in the cold this winter, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) issued a warning to Georgians who have had their natural gas shut off for non-payment or for those who have been notified of termination, to settle past due bills with their natural gas marketer now in order to restore service before winter.

To ensure that people don’t get left in the cold come this winter, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) today issued a warning to Georgians who have had their natural gas shut off for non-payment or for those who have been notified of termination, to settle past due bills with their natural gas marketer now in order to restore service before winter.

The Rockies and California border-SoCalGas were the odd markets out Tuesday as the budding rejuvenation of prices in general picked up steam. Most points registered gains between 15 cents and a quarter, with larger advances posted at Pacific Northwest and PG&E-related points.

After opening higher for the second day in a row, natural gas futures were left to chop lower as many traders elected to wait patiently on the sidelines ahead of fresh storage data from the American Gas Association. Trading picked up a little after the report was released (a 49 Bcf withdrawal), but even that was unable to propel the May contract outside of its recent trading range. By virtue of its $5.182 close, the prompt month for the second day in a row finished stronger on the day, but below its opening trade.

Contrary to the impression left by state policymakers nowanxious for California to buy the state’s three investor-ownedutilities’ portion of the state transmission grid, the overworked,congestion-plagued system has had more than 100 upgrade projectstotaling more than $1 billion under way in the past three yearssince the state-chartered independent operator (Cal-ISO) assumedcontrol of the private-sector assets. The utility owners havecontinued to foot the bill for the upgrades and expansions.

If you got a lump of coal in your stocking this Christmas,rejoice. It could be the only thing left to heat your home by theend of winter. There is a growing consensus among gas marketexperts that there will be a shortage by March if the weather staysnormal or colder than normal.

Pennsylvania-based PPL Corp. has recently taken on a “Go West”theme, as evidenced by its plans to build 1,800 MW of newelectricity generation on the left coast at an estimateddevelopment cost of $900 million.

The sudden 20-cent jump in gas futures prices yesterdayinitially left most of the cash market behind with cold weathercurrently confined mostly to the Rockies and upper Midwest.However, late in the day cash prices gained enough ground to boostdaily averages up about a dime.