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Based on normal weather, natural gas customers served by St. Louis-based Laclede Gas will see a 35% reduction in their winter heating bills, the company estimates. Laclede, with an estimated 633,000 customers in St. Louis and eastern Missouri, bases its cost estimates on the recent wholesale price projections for the winter period from November through March 2002.

Natural gas rates in the Carolinas are headed down again, according to Piedmont Natural Gas Co.. As a result, Piedmont said it has filed for a gas service rate decrease that should make its customers in the Carolinas see their gas bills decline by 15-20% this winter compared to last winter, assuming normal weather.

Sonat plans to offer a blanket IT discount for any gas received at a Production Area zone pipeline interconnect and delivered to an interconnect in the same zone. The rate of 5 cents/Dth plus applicable fuel (includes all surcharges) will be implemented July 1 and remain in effect on a month-to-month basis until further notice. See the bulletin board for details.

Tampa-based Peoples Gas is sending a gift of sorts to its customers beginning today by reducing natural gas prices for the second time this year. The Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) factor on residential bills will drop about 32% to $0.66749/therm, following a 15% decrease in March. The two reductions lowered the PGA factor to September 2000 levels, said the company.

Most prices kept falling Thursday but at a slower rate of decline than on Wednesday. Citing lower weekend load and the prospects for milder weather, a number of traders expect more softness today.

Major American businesses that have taken advantage of powerderegulation and switched suppliers have benefited from lowerprices, but they also have received less service, performance andvalue, and they’re ready to switch again, according to a survey byRKS Research and Consulting.

After last year’s phenomenal earnings growth rate of 26%,UtiliCorp United’s CEO thinks the energy services provider hasnever been stronger, and said last week that the company’s diverseportfolio should guarantee earnings of at least 15% for the nextseveral years. Rick C. Green Jr. stressed, though, that diversitydid not necessarily mean adding more assets, just doing well withthe ones the company already holds.

After last year’s phenomenal earnings growth rate of 26%,UtiliCorp United’s CEO thinks the energy services provider hasnever been stronger, and said yesterday that the company’s diverseportfolio should guarantee earnings of at least 15% for the nextseveral years. Rick C. Green Jr. also stressed, though, thatdiversity did not necessarily mean adding more assets, just doingwell with the ones the company already has.

The pace of stopgap measures for California’s expected powershortages this summer picked up Tuesday with the governorannouncing rebates to customers cutting their summer power use by20% and Calpine Corp. striking an immediate two-month deal forproviding 550 MW to southern California markets starting todaythrough May 15. The short-term power pact is an interim one withthe state water resources department.