Lowering

If PJM Interconnection and the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) can fully implement protocols related to seams-related coordination efforts, those protocols will likely minimize the potential to game the differences between locational prices, the market monitors for both regional transmission organizations (RTOs) conclude in a new joint report filed at FERC.

Saskatchewan’s government has introduced a plan to increase exploration and development activity by lowering oil and gas royalty and tax structures, implementing a system of volume incentives and reducing corporate capital tax surcharges.

Saskatchewan’s government has introduced a plan to increase exploration and development activity by lowering oil and gas royalty and tax structures, implementing a system of volume incentives and reducing corporate capital tax surcharges.

Raymond James analysts are lowering their 2002 rig count forecast but holding steady their forecast for 2003. Despite the recent sharp increases in oil and gas prices, producers have not responded with increases in drilling. The apparent disconnect seems to be related to their desire to use increased cash flows to strengthen balance sheets rather than re-invest in the drill bit, said Raymond James’ Marshall Adkins.

Raymond James analysts are lowering their 2002 rig count forecast but holding steady their forecast for 2003. Despite the recent sharp increases in oil and gas prices, producers have not responded with increases in drilling. The apparent disconnect seems to be related to their desire to use increased cash flows to strengthen balance sheets rather than re-invest in the drill bit, said Raymond James’ Marshall Adkins.

Acknowledging that federal regulators hold most of the trump cards related to lowering natural gas costs, the California legislature nevertheless has produced four bills aimed indirectly at cutting consumer costs by developing more underground storage (AB 78X), producing more in-state gas supplies (AB 73X), eliminating anti-competitive tariffs (AB 23X), and shortening new pipeline permitting processes (AB 42X).

Acknowledging that federal regulators hold most of the trump cards related to lowering natural gas costs, the California legislature nevertheless has produced four bills aimed indirectly at cutting consumer costs by developing more underground storage (AB 78X); producing more in-state gas supplies (AB 73X); eliminating anti-competitive tariffs (AB 23X); and shortening new pipeline permitting processes (AB 42X).

In an interim decision on retail gas competition last week,Connecticut regulators bowed to pressure from marketers by loweringbalancing penalties, allowing imbalance trading and ordering thestate’s three LDCs to provide a monthly economic comparison ofvarious cash-out methodologies.

People that had been dismissing Tropical Storm Frances as barelya blip on the gas market’s radar screen Wednesday were paying muchcloser attention Thursday as production outages grew and cashprices went up in the neighborhood of a dime at nearly all points.Prices in areas not directly affected by the storm outages werebeing pulled up largely by the futures screen’s big jump, sourcessaid. Also, the AGA’s Wednesday afternoon report of a smallish 35Bcf in storage withdrawals last week helped set the stage for priceincreases everywhere, a Texas marketer said.