Rare

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Thursday took the rare step of introducing a “disapproval resolution” to block the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) efforts to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA). It sparked an immediate counterattack by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who called Murkowski’s action a “new low” in the Senate.

In a rare display of unanimity Wednesday, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee accepted a Republican amendment to the climate change bill (HR 2454) that would promote the use of natural gas.

In a rare Sunday session the Senate voted to advance a $10-12 billion omnibus lands package that would close access to millions of acres of public lands for energy exploration and other activities.

Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. delivered some rare cheer to investors last week, trumpeting higher-than-expected earnings and a dividend boost for 2009, as well as the possibility that it may expand its North American “gas map.”

Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. delivered some rare cheer to investors Wednesday, trumpeting higher-than-expected earnings and a dividend boost for 2009, as well as the possibility that it may expand its North American “gas map.”

Even after experiencing a rare loss in its joint venture energy trading business, San Diego-based Sempra Energy senior executives talked bullishly about the prospects for the fourth quarter and next year during a conference call with financial analysts Monday in which the utility holding company reported essentially flat third quarter results ($308 million, or $1.24/diluted share, compared with net income of $305 million, or $1.15/diluted share, in the same period in 2007).

Fueled by a rare degree of bipartisan agreement on climate change-driven alternative energy solutions, a National Clean Energy Summit concluded Tuesday in Las Vegas with an extensive wish list directed at the party platform authors at both upcoming major political conventions. Nothing was left out, and one of the conference’s hosts, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), committed to seeking bipartisan support for energy action when Congress returns in September.

Taking the rare step of issuing an OFO on the morning of its implementation, Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) declared a high-linepack OFO on the Intraday 1 nominations cycle for Wednesday. The giant LDC said it would assess Buy-Back charges in accordance with its rules and tariffs to customers who delivered more than 110% of their actual gas usage on the OFO day. The OFO was extended with the same conditions through Thursday.

Maintaining the downward momentum from last Friday, the December natural gas futures contract — aided by some rare weakness in the petroleum ring — continued to scout lower price levels on Monday, recording a low of $7.980 before closing out at $7.999, down 41.9 cents from Friday.