Must

The groundhog must have chewed a hole into a CNG storagefacility, judging from the massive withdrawal that the American GasAssociation reported last week. At 242 Bcf, the withdrawal ranks asthe third largest since AGA started its survey six years ago. Itwas the largest for the last week in January.

A three-member arbitration panel ruled that Oglethorpe PowerCorp.’s power marketing contract with LG&E Energy Corp. andLG&E Energy Marketing Inc. is valid and must be honored.LG&E began its challenge to the contract in 1998. The companysaid the decision will cause it to increase its fourth quarterafter-tax accrued loss on disposal of discontinued operations by$175 million. The loss stems from increased load demands, higherthan anticipated future commodity prices and other factors. Theincrease in the loss reserve will be recorded in discontinuedoperations.

A three-member arbitration panel ruled that Oglethorpe PowerCorp.’s power marketing contract with LG&E Energy Corp. andLG&E Energy Marketing Inc. is valid and must be honored.LG&E began its challenge to the contract in 1998. The companysaid the decision will cause it to increase its fourth quarterafter-tax accrued loss on disposal of discontinued operations by$175 million. The loss stems from increased load demands, higherthan anticipated future commodity prices and other factors. Theincrease in the loss reserve will be recorded in discontinuedoperations.

Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America’s (NGPL) interpretation of aNovember order addressing its auctioning practices was dead wrong,FERC said last week in denying the pipeline’s request forrehearing.

Destin Pipeline said Monday it is experiencing excessive watervapor in its receipts. According to the Destin tariff, all gasreceived must contain no more than seven pounds of water vapor per1 million cubic feet of gas and no free water. Operators were askedto check their equipment to make sure it is in proper workingorder. Destin said it is gathering data on various locations, andany producer found in violation of the water vapor spec is subjectto being shut in.

New KN Energy chief Richard Kinder must have put the fear of God in the NGPL pipeline team. After years of pipeline underutilization and decontracting, NGPL locked in contracts last week for nearly all of its firm transportation capacity, just as shareholders of Kinder Morgan and KN were approving the $900 million stock-for-stock merger of the two companies. KN Energy’s transformation and recovery could be one of the fastest seen in the energy industry in a long time.

El Paso Energy Corp. has agreed to sell East Tennessee NaturalGas, Sea Robin Pipeline and its interest in Destin Pipeline to gainFederal Trade Commission (FTC) approval of its merger with SonatInc. El Paso said last week it has signed a consent agreement withthe FTC and expects the agency to sign “shortly.” El Paso and Sonatexpect to close the merger in early October. FERC approved themerger last week.

After much talk earlier in the week about how weak the cashmarket looks, it must have surprised some traders Wednesday to seeall but a few scattered points range from flat to as much as anickel higher. Between a neutral screen and no change infundamental factors, sources had trouble explaining why Tuesday’sprice skid came to such a quick halt only a day later. A marketersaid he wanted to suggest the “bears” had gone into hibernation,but it was too long before winter begins for that.

Commissioners Linda K. Breathitt and Vicky A. Bailey this weekjoined the club of those confused about when, if ever, FERC mightsettle the huge number of gas issues that have been on its platefor more than a year. Early in the week, Breathitt indicated itwould take up to six more months, while Bailey said yesterday theCommission would be delivering a package of gas decisions byChristmas.