Multiplied

Mexico’s energy secretary said Tuesday that the nation’s natural gas reserves could be multiplied as much as six fold after the discovery of large shale gas deposits in the country’s north and east, and could enable the country to stop importing natural gas.

As the energy scandals multiplied and intensified last week, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission — the agency that normally probes industry improprieties — had the tables abruptly turned on itself. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), who is leading the charge into Enron Corp. and other energy mischief on Capitol Hill, called for an independent investigation into the “behavior and contacts” of FERC to find out why it apparently looked the other way while Enron and possibly other energy suppliers engaged in wholesale manipulation of energy prices in California and other western states. He proposed that a special counsel be appointed to plumb the depths of energy suppliers’ improprieties in western markets, and the agency’s response.