Ranks

Although the Northeast consumes a lower percentage of naturalgas than does the rest of the nation, gas ranks as the most popularenergy fuel in households, according to a new study by the EnergyInformation Agency (EIA).

A Williams Gas Pipeline executive last week broke ranks with theinterstate pipeline industry’s generally undivided support forstraight-fixed variable (SFV) rate design, advocating instead amove to a volumetric design. He believes such a rate design will beessential for gas pipelines to meet the needs of power generators,and for the industry as a whole to reach its goal of a 30 Tcfmarket

Two producers-Husky Oil Ltd. and Renaissance Energy Ltd.- havejumped into the ranks of top 10 Canadian suppliers of natural gasto the United States, according to a scorecard kept by the U.S.Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy.

Two producers-Husky Oil Ltd. and Renaissance Energy Ltd.-havejumped into the ranks of top 10 Canadian suppliers of natural gasto the United States, says a scorecard kept by the U.S. Departmentof Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy.

Avista Energy announced today it has moved into the top ten inthe power marketing ranks with completion of its acquisition ofVitol Gas & Electric LLC, one of the top 20 energy marketingcompanies in the United States.

Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., a partner in MillenniumPipeline, has joined the growing ranks of pipeline sponsors thatare asking FERC to issue preliminary determinations (PDs) posthaste so that they can finalize shipper commitments and meet theirprojected in-service dates.

Texaco joined the growing crowd of producers revising downwardcapital expenditures for 1999. The company said its 1999 capexwould total $3.7 billion, including subsidiaries and affiliates,down $600 million from its original $4.3 billion plan. Chevron,Arco and Unocal announced similar reductions last month.

The stock merger of Kerr-McGee and Oryx Energy creates the No. 4U.S. independent producer with market capitalization of $4 billionand is symptomatic of an industry pushed headlong intoconsolidation by sharply depressed oil and gas prices.

The small Washington energy law firm Morley Caskin has joinedthe international ranks, merging with the 700-lawyer British firm,Cameron McKenna. Morley Caskin attorneys Joel Zipp and GeorgeWilliams Jr. are among the six lawyers being added to the largerfirm’s Washington office. The move was official Sept. 1, but willnot be physically accomplished until offices are ready next month.