Nation

The Energy Information Administration released its Annual EnergyReview this week chronicling 50 years of changes in the U.S. energyindustry. Fifty years ago the nation was nearly self-sufficient inpetroleum and was a net exporter of natural gas, the report notes.Now, on the eve of the new century, America imports more than half ofits petroleum and 15% of its natural gas. Gas supply and demand werein relative balance in the U.S. until the mid-1980s when aproduction-consumption gap developed. In 1998, U.S. production was 19Tcf, consumption was 21 Tcf and imports were 3 Tcf. While the numberof wells producing gas in the U.S. grew 263% over the 50 years, theaverage output per well fell by 55%. The report is available at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/ on EIA’s web site.Printed copes will be available later this month from the U.S.Government Printing Office, (202) 512-1800, or through EIA’s NationalEnergy Information Center, (202) 586-8800.

On the heels of a spectacular discovery on its turf, Canada’sNorthwest Territories has tossed a red hot potato into the lap ofthe nation’s natural gas community. The government in Yellowknifeis calling on the National Energy Board to take control of the11,000-mile Nova pipeline grid’s tolls and development away fromthe Alberta government.

On the heels of a spectacular discovery on its turf, Canada’sNorthwest Territories has tossed a red hot potato into the lap ofthe nation’s natural gas community. The government in Yellowknifeis calling on the National Energy Board to take control of the11,000-mile Nova pipeline grid’s tolls and development away fromthe Alberta government.

Offering to manage energy and related infrastructure services,Sempra Energy’s energy services provider has inked a deal with oneof the nation’s largest auto parts retail chains. Under the dealSempra Energy Solutions will provide energy information and billingmanagement services for 718 retail outlets in 37 states.

The nation’s largest gas distributor, Southern California Gas,last week signaled a possible future change in the way itscustomers access intrastate transmission during oral arguments atthe CPUC on future changes in California’s gas industry. Inaddition, for the first time, a number of the 19 major participantsin the state’s gas restructuring proceeding suggested a settlementprocess might be adopted to resolve some controversial issues.

The nation’s largest gas distributor, Southern California Gas,earlier this week signaled a possible future change in the way itscustomers access intrastate transmission during oral arguments atthe CPUC on future changes in California’s gas industry. Inaddition, for the first time, a number of the 19 major participantsin the state’s gas restructuring proceeding suggested a settlementprocess might be adopted to resolve some controversial issues.

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), which represents thenation’s major gas producers, last week placed its president,Nicholas J. Bush, on administrative leave without pay in the wakeof an investigation and a subsequent lawsuit. The suit accuses himof fraud and misappropriating more than $2.4 million from the groupsince the late 1980s. The D.C. Superior Court, where the suit wasfiled, has issued a temporary restraining order against Bush andhas continued the case until Feb. 26 [Docket No. 1028-99].

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), which represents thenation’s major gas producers, earlier this week placed itspresident, Nicholas J. Bush, on administrative leave without pay inthe wake of an investigation and a subsequent civil lawsuitaccusing him of misappropriating more than $2 million from thegroup since the late 1980s. The D.C. Superior Court, where the suitwas filed, has issued a temporary restraining order against Bushand has continued the case until Feb. 26 [Docket No. 001028-99].

An Arctic cold front spreading through the nation’s midsectionwas enough to arrest a late December slide in cash prices Tuesday,at least in Eastern markets, which tended to be flat to slightlyhigher. But except for essential flatness at Waha and the PermianBasin, most of the West fell by about a dime or more, topped by adrop of almost 30 cents at Stanfield.