Rights

Williams Gas Pipelines’ Lew Posekany proposed something thisweek that would make most pipeline customers cringe-that FERC inits quest to create a more competitive natural gas market shouldtoss out some of the notions of fairness that have been woven intoits regulations over time.

Major pipeline-only companies for the most part turned in”better-than-expected” performances during the first quarter of theyear, while integrated pipelines took some big hits – particularlyin the oilpatch, gas analysts said. Fortunately for someintegrateds, the bigger profits from their unregulated activitieshelped to offset the losses.

Some of the “most pronounced” turnback activity for long-termfirm capacity can be expected to occur this year, next year and in2004, according to an analysis of the pipeline transportationmarket issued by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) lastweek.

Major improvements in well productivity from new technology andhigher success rates in gas drilling will help producers meetanticipated robust growth in U.S. gas demand over the next twodecades, according to a Gas Research Institute study.

After rallying more than 15 cent from last weeks lows, naturalgas futures took a breather Wednesday, trading sideways within atight 4.5-cent range. The June contract settled unchanged for theday at $2.359.

Some of the “most pronounced” turnback activity for long-termfirm capacity can be expected this year and next, according to ananalysis of the pipeline transportation market issued by the EnergyInformation Administration (EIA) yesterday.

Regulations pertaining to the construction of new pipelineprojects took the spotlight at FERC last week, with the Commissionissuing a final rule aimed at updating and streamlining thecertificate process for new projects, while at the same timeproposing an initiative that would give landowners greaterparticipation in the process.

Dynegy’s merchant power “leveraging” strategy, utilizinggeneration plants added over the last year, produced a whopper of afirst quarter. The company posted a 127% increase in net incomeafter special items to $28.1 million, or $0.17/share, from $12.3million, or $0.07/share in 1Q98. Recurring net income increased 20%to $22.3 million.

After spiking as much as 7 cents higher in the Wednesday eveningAccess session, the new prompt month was the focus of muchconjecture and speculation. Would June continue higher, followingthe example set by May, or fall from its already lofty perch? Formany, it is still too early to tell, but if yesterday’s priceaction was any indication, June will have a difficult time matchingMay’s 50-cent price increase over the past month. After opening at$2.40, the June contract tumbled throughout the session to close at$2.339, a 0.2-cent decline from Wednesday’s close.