Lofty

With natural gas prices continuing to remain lofty, Americans should prepare themselves for higher utility bills this winter heating season, according to a new survey conducted by NUS Consulting Group. The annual survey found that the average price of natural gas nationwide increased by 4.3% from the period of September 2003 to September 2004.

Despite an attempt in morning trade, November natural gas futures on Monday were unable to retrace the mammoth gains recorded last week. The prompt month settled at $6.725, down only 4.7 cents from Friday’s close.

With almost 20% of the Gulf’s daily natural gas production still shut in, natural gas futures on Wednesday continued to trade in the upper $5s, despite a few bumps along the way. Trading volume was especially heavy as 140,516 contracts changed hands.

American Gas Association (AGA) Chairman Robert Best told security analysts last week that they should get used to the higher natural gas prices because they were going to be around for the entire winter season.

American Gas Association (AGA) Chairman Robert Best told security analysts earlier this week that they should get used to the higher natural gas prices because they were going to be around for the entire winter season.

If the United States wants to maintain its current standard of living, it is going to have to become a bigger player in the global gas market by importing more liquefied natural gas (LNG), Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told a House panel last Tuesday.

If the United States wants to maintain its current standard of living, it will have to become a bigger player in the global gas market by importing more liquefied natural gas (LNG), Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told a House panel Tuesday.

With lofty goals of becoming a nationally recognized leader inretail energy supply, The New Power Company, formed in May throughan alliance of Enron, America Online, IBM, and General Electric,filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Fridayto launch an initial public offering of $400 million.

Although you couldn’t tell from rapidly depleting gas storagelevels or lofty gas prices, this winter turned out to be thewarmest on record for the United States, according to a report bythe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And it was thethird winter in a row in which record warmth cooked the UnitedStates.