Real

As results of the Alberta election sank in last week, a senior oil and gas business leader, faced with the very real possibility that oil and gas royalties will likely climb 20% next year, glumly described the industry as learning a hard lesson about its political standing.

As results of the Alberta election sank in Tuesday, a senior oil and gas business leader, faced with the very real possibility that oil and gas royalties will likely climb 20% next year, glumly described the industry as learning a hard lesson about its political standing.

Energy efficiency is no longer considered just a “nice thing to do for society” and is now considered “a real resource,” even a “fifth fuel,” National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) President Jim Kerr told Congress last Monday.

Energy efficiency is no longer considered just a “nice thing to do for society” and is now considered “a real resource,” even a “fifth fuel,” National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) President Jim Kerr told Congress Monday.

Energy derivatives brokerage services company Optionable Inc. said Friday that it is introducing seven new swap contracts on its OPEX platform, a real-time electronic trade-matching and brokerage system that has been certified to connect with the New York Mercantile Exchange’s (Nymex) ClearPort clearing platform.

With colder temps already descending on the Midwest and East and forecasts calling for real seasonal cold to impact the East late next week, natural gas futures traders on Wednesday continued to venture higher towards the psychological $7 level. The February natural gas contract put in a high of $6.800 before settling at $6.755, up 12.4 cents on the day and 57.1 cents higher already for the week.

While a number of high-energy-demand markets were hit with their first real cold snap of the 2006-2007 heating season late last week, it appears the United States on average will enjoy above-normal temperatures once again this winter, according to the U.S. Winter Weather Outlook released last week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

While a number of high-energy-demand markets prepare for the first real cold snap of the 2006-2007 heating season later this week (see related story), it appears the United States on average will enjoy above-normal temperatures once again this winter, according to the U.S. Winter Weather Outlook released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

With mother nature largely in control of the natural gas market, forecasting prices can be a real headache. Winter Henry Hub prices (November-March), for example, could average anywhere from $4 to $11.50, depending on whether temperatures are 13% warmer than normal or 12% colder than normal this winter, Energy and Environmental Analysis Inc. (EEA) said in its latest Monthly Gas Update. EEA’s best guess is an $8.48 winter average at the hub.