Eskridge, KS (Pop. 518), can live without unbundled gas service,thank you very much. The city-owned Eskridge Gas System, whichserves about 587 customers in Eskridge and four nearby communities,would rather not be bothered with trying to educate customers aboutgas supplier choice.
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Softer Market Sees Biggest Drops in Rockies, NNG Points
Much of Monday’s swing market closely resembled that of Friday:flat to down 3-4 cents. But some points were conspicuous withsubstantially larger decreases. Since CIG and Public Service ofColorado ended price-boosting OFOs over the weekend, prices onCIG-North System and Questar fell by a little over a nickel. Thesteepest plunge by far of almost 20 cents came at CIG-DJ(Denver-Julesburg) Basin, which had soared by a similar amountlast Wednesday after PSCo declared a Restricted Delivery Daysituation.
Whopper Hurricane Season Expected
The United States didn’t see much of a winter, but you can holdonto your hats this summer because the hurricane season may blowyou away.
Gas Industry Lacks Harmony in NOPR, NOI Comments
FERC Chairman James Hoecker said recently he didn’t expect tosee much “consensus” from the natural gas industry on the majorinitiatives in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) and noticeof inquiry (NOI). Judging from some of the comments that floodedinto the Commission yesterday, he was right on target.
Gray Predicts a Busy Hurricane Season
The United States didn’t see much of a winter, but you can holdonto your hats this summer because the hurricane season may blowyou away.
Williams Announces Buccaneer Pipeline Results
In the race to obtain as much of the bounteous Florida market aspossible, Williams has taken the early lead over Coastal as thecompany reported 1.3 Bcf/d in nominations received during theBuccaneer Pipeline open season. The open season ended in lateMarch.
Avista Predicts 1Q Earnings Downturn
Avista Corp. of Spokane, WA, its first-quarter earnings pershare could fall as much as 15 cents per share below securitiesanalysts’ current consensus first quarter estimate of 49 cents pershare. However, CEO T.M. Matthews said the company is stillcomfortable with analyst expectations of earnings for the year ofbetween $1.55-$1.65 per share
New Century, NSP Marriage Creates Top-5 Utility
New Century Energies and Northern States Power, two mid-sizedcombination utilities, decided on marriage yesterday to create amuch larger company, fend off competitors and prepare for comingderegulation. Through a $4.7 billion merger of equals ($9 billionbased on combined market capitalization), the companies will createa Minneapolis-based electric and gas utility conglomerate with 3million power customers and 1.5 million gas customers in 12 statesfrom Mexico to Canada.
April Continues Lower, Drops Another 6 Cents
The bearish American Gas Association storage report was too muchfor the April contract last week. Despite strength that sent thecontract to a new high of $1.965 last Wednesday, April ended theweek near its low, down 9.4 cents on news that a large storagesurplus remains. After falling 12.1 cents on Thursday, the contractattempted an initial push Friday morning but immediately loststeam, dropping sharply to a low of 1.750 only to zigzag sidewaysthe rest of the day before closing down 6.1 cents at $1.759/MMBtu.
Gas Unlikely to Benefit From TX Producer Relief
Small gas producers might not see much if any benefit from aseverance tax relief bill passed by the Texas legislature lastweek. Oil producers, however, will get a break. Relief specified inthe bill is triggered by low commodity prices, and the trigger foroil producers already has been pulled. However, the statecomptroller’s office does not expect gas prices to dive low enough,long enough to enact relief.