Prices

Utilities continue to struggle with high commodity prices as evidenced most recently on Friday when the Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G) filed a petition with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) requesting an increase in gas base rates of $171 million for gas delivery service. The requested increase would result in an overall gas revenue increase of 7.06% to reflect current costs. PSE&G last filed for an increase in base rates in November 1991. PSE&G said that present gas rates will remain in effect until new rates are approved by the BPU. PSE&G is New Jersey’s oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving 3.5 million customers.

Prices came out of the weekend ranging from flat to moderately higher at nearly all eastern points Monday. Much bigger increases, including triple-digit ones in California, reigned in the West, a region that was experiencing weather extremes Sunday and Monday.

High U.S. commodity prices helped lift BP Plc to a record quarterly profit. Tuesday, the company announced its first quarter adjusted replacement cost net profit before goodwill of $4.126 billion, up 52% from a year ago. However, BP, ranked third in the world, did not exceed its earnings forecast of $3.56-$4.23 billion — a feat accomplished by leaders Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch/Shell Group.

High U.S. commodity prices helped lift BP Plc to a record quarterly profit. Tuesday, The company announced its first quarter adjusted replacement cost net profit before goodwill of $4.126 billion, up 52% from a year ago. However, BP, ranked third in the world, did not exceed its earnings forecast of $3.56-$4.23 billion — a feat accomplished by leaders Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch/Shell Group.

The week’s market activity came to a quiet close Friday with prices at most eastern points and Permian/Waha hovering on either side of flat, but with a slight bias to the upside. Western markets were generally softer, with California once again way out in front, leading a downhill charge.

Duke Energy late Wednesday confirmed that it has proposed a “good faith” preliminary global settlement designed to help solve California’s ongoing energy crisis and urged Gov. Gray Davis to take a hard look at the initiatives the company has put forward. Key elements of Duke’s proposed settlement include a willingness by the company to build new supply in the state without taxpayers having to foot the bill and resolution of all pending lawsuits and investigations into Duke’s pricing activities.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Tuesday announced that due to a decrease in wholesale natural gas prices, and a decline in usage, the average residential gas bill in May is expected to decrease as much as 42% from April bills, to $47. The new rates will take effect May 7. The average residential customer uses 30 therms a month in the summer season (May-October) and 70 therms a month in winter (November-April). The anticipated drop in usage accounts for most of the significant decrease expected in monthly bills. However, the actual cost of gas is also declining in May. The procurement cost will be $0.78 per therm, compared with $0.84 per therm in April, a decrease of more than 9%. The delivery charge that customers pay the PG&E utility has not increased, and will not change.

Following a nine-week sideways consolidation period, natural gas prices finally broke lower Monday, as traders continued to price in the impact of increased production in a slowing economy. A gap lower open for the June contract set the tone early and the bears responded with a steady stream of selling throughout the session, delivering the prompt month to its lowest settle in five months. At the closing bell, June was 17.2 cents lower at $4.695.

California softness was the exception to Monday price increases that were in double digits in most cases and continued a general rally that had begun on Friday. Sources attributed the upticks mostly to a further rise in futures, but acknowledged that a widespread warm-up that created some date-specific high temperature records over the weekend was starting to generate some “decent” air conditioning load, particularly in the South and mid-Atlantic.