Positives

While its private sector electric utilities squirmed and made contingency plans for a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Nevada’s energy regulators put a positive spin on an adverse Enron Corp. court ruling that went against the state’s two electric utilities late last month. When the three-member Nevada Public Utilities Commission met last Wednesday the court decision wasn’t mentioned.

Thomas F. Karam, president of Southern Union, said the downgrade of the company’s corporate credit rating from BBB+ to BBB by Standard & Poor’s was expected, and the action was accompanied by some other positive findings. For example, S&P removed Southern Union’s rating outlook from “CreditWatch” and assigned the company a stable rating.

Debt-laden and cash-poor energy merchants with few prized assets left to sell should consider selling stock — if they have access to the capital markets. The equity sales would only have a “neutral to mildly negative” effect for many companies, according to a new study.

Debt-laden and cash-poor energy merchants with few prized assets left to sell should consider selling stock — if they have access to the capital markets. The equity sales would only have a “neutral to mildly negative” effect for many companies, according to a new study.

As investors are being blitzed with reports of bleak economic news and widespread stock sell-offs on Wall Street, Raymond James & Associates Thursday offered an encouraging word to energy companies: energy stocks are “at or very near the bottom point.”

The American Gas Association (AGA) sees nothing but positives in the current gas supply situation despite the fact that inadequate supply in the face of strong demand growth has been behind the recent record increase in prices and expectations of more than $4 gas price averages this year. It’s confidence in the long-term growth of demand has been shaken somewhat, however, and its prior price forecasts appear to have been more than a little on the low side.

The American Gas Association sees nothing but positives in the current gas supply situation despite the fact that inadequate supply in the face of strong demand growth has been behind the recent record increase in prices and expectations of more than $4 gas price averages this year.