Outs

Real winter made a brief appearance in the East early last week as several major eastern utilities reported setting some new gas and power send-out records on Monday, Dec. 20. Consolidated Edison (ConEd) pinpointed the average temperature in its New York City area over a 24-hour period last Monday at 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Forecasts may be moderating, but two major eastern utilities reported setting some new gas and power send-out records Monday. Consolidated Edison (ConEd) pinpointed the average temperature in its New York City area over the 24-hour period of Dec. 20 at 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

On the heels of a statewide cold snap fostering near-record natural gas send-outs late last month, Pacifiic Gas and Electric Co. last week reported that its retail natural gas rates are down by 64% from their record high a year ago in the midst of California’s energy price/supply crisis. The average retail bill expected this month is about $41, based on a 27 cents/therm wholesale cost, compared to average bills for February 2001 of $113, based a $1.28/therm wholesale cost.

On the heels of a statewide cold snap fostering near-record natural gas send-outs last week, Pacifiic Gas and Electric Co. Monday reported that its retail natural gas rates are down by 64% from their record high a year ago in the midst of California’s energy price/supply crisis. The average retail bill expected this month is about $41, based on a 27 cents/therm wholesale cost, compared to average bills for February 2001 of $113, based a $1.28/therm wholesale cost.

Chairman designate Pat Wood III is looking for a few good energy executives to teach him and his FERC colleagues the ins and outs of the natural gas and electricity markets, specifically how to detect when something “smelly” is taking place.

As the state faced the threat of a third day of rollingblack-outs Friday, the California government enacted legislationproviding $400 million to the state water resources agency so itcan substitute for the two failing utilities, Pacific Gas &Electric and Southern California Edison, in buying bulk power forconsumers in northern California.

It took FERC only a few days to recognize that ANR Pipeline’sMarch 8 application for a second Wisconsin expansion project in 18months fails to meet the Commission’s test for showing market need.

It took FERC only a few days to recognize that ANR PipelineCo.’s March 8 application for a second Wisconsin expansion projectin 18 months fails to meet the Commission’s test for showing marketneed.

Small gains dominated the late-July incremental cash marketWednesday. Positioning for cash-outs was the primary reason forfirmness in the Midcontinent and Gulf Coast, according to aproducer; “there’s not much else to base it on.” Predictably,incremental business tended to get shoved onto a back burner as theHenry Hub futures contract for August expired.