Revisited

Futures Jump Back Above $10 as Market Weighs Concerns Versus Facts

Just when it looked like $10/Mcf gas was firmly in the rear view mirror, May natural gas futures revisited the price level Monday as near-term weather forecasts are looking a little cooler than first thought. The prompt-month contract shot to a high of $10.190 before closing out the regular session at $10.101, up 30.1 cents from Friday’s close.

April 1, 2008

CAISO Asks FERC to Help Eliminate Flaw in Intertie Transactions

A ghost from the 2000-2001 wholesale energy scams that permeated the West has revisited the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) as an offshoot of its implementation last October of part of its comprehensive market redesign. As a result, CAISO has incurred unnecessary higher costs for import and export of power between California and other control areas, and the appearance of so-called “wash” trading where fictional deals take place to boost trading volumes for marketers.

April 4, 2005

Kansas Tax Ruling Revisited

Its prior ruling basically putting the Kansas ad valorem taxcontroversy to rest was based on two incorrect factual assumptions,the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit conceded last week.But despite the errors, the court said the thrust of its opinionremains the same — Kansas producers owe refunds to customers whopurchased gas in the early 1980s at prices that, because theyincluded the tax, were above the maximum legal limit.

January 25, 2000