Pushing

Several consumer groups last week took steps toward pushing forre-regulation nationally and in states, denouncing efforts toderegulate the electricity industry as flawed.

After pushing prices some 60 cents higher over the past threeweeks, traders were faced with one question when they came backinto work following the holiday weekend: When will October futuresbreach the $5.00 level?

The CEO of one of the most active drillers in North America —EOG Resources Inc. — said last week that he expects the next “bigslug of supply” will come from Alaska and the Beaufort Sea, but notuntil a pipeline is in place there, and not until producers canfill the pipelines with gas.

The natural gas is waiting, the communities are willing and theauthorities are prepared to co-operate any time producers andpipelines want to revive development in the Canadian north, theindustry is being told.

The natural gas is waiting, the communities are willing and theauthorities are prepared to co-operate any time producers andpipelines want to revive development in the Canadian north, theindustry is being told.

Interest in at last tapping natural gas reserves on the northernfrontiers of North America has reached into the inner circles ofWashington, the Canadian supply community has learned.

Interest in finally tapping natural gas on the northernfrontiers of North America reaches into the inner circles ofWashington, the Canadian supply community has learned.

CMS Energy Corp., is pushing ahead with plans to convert part ofCMS Trunkline’s mainline from gas to liquids service. Last week thecompany was joined in the project by Marathon Ashland PetroleumLLC, and TEPPCO Partners LP.

In what may have been a Pyrrhic victory, bears were successfulpushing futures prices lower Wednesday amid reconfirmed reports ofwarm weather expected this weekend and next week. Prices for theMarch contract finished the session down 5.4 cents at $2.564 inwhat several sources called a lackluster trading session.