Same

If PJM Interconnection and the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) can fully implement protocols related to seams-related coordination efforts, those protocols will likely minimize the potential to game the differences between locational prices, the market monitors for both regional transmission organizations (RTOs) conclude in a new joint report filed at FERC.

With the exception of a few scattered flat to barely lower points, nearly all the market was on the same softening page Friday, showing the most unity of price movement since the previous week. Lack of heating load in many areas, the delayed impact of a bearish storage report Thursday and the demand dropoff typical of a weekend produced overall declines ranging from about a nickel to more than 40 cents but concentrated in the teens.

With wholesale gas prices for March and April nearly triple what prices were for the same months in 2002, very little can be done to prevent some impact on utility customers. Despite forward purchasing, storage and other risk management practices, Mobile Gas in Alabama said its residential customers still will see a 22% increase in their rates.

With wholesale gas prices for March and April nearly triple what prices were for the same months in 2002, there is very little that can be done to prevent some impact on utility customers. Despite forward purchasing, storage and other risk management practices, Mobile Gas in Alabama said its residential customers still will see a 22% increase in their rates.

With Canada and much of the northern U.S. experiencing deep-freeze low temperatures and a more-of-the-same outlook for Wednesday, the market continued to eke out small, single-digit gains at most points Tuesday.

Indicative of industry-wide trends in the same direction, Rosemead, CA-based Edison International’s senior executives told financial analysts Tuesday that the energy holding company is staking its future on restoring its traditional utility operations to full financial health.

North American natural gas volumes appear to have fallen 1.4% sequentially and 4.6% over levels for the same period a year ago, according to Lehman Brothers analyst Thomas R. Driscoll. Using final production numbers from 43 Lower 48 and 14 Canadian producers, Driscoll estimated that U.S. production for 2002 will be down 5%-6% over a year ago, while Canada will have a 2.5% drop in production from 2001 levels.

North American natural gas volumes appear to have fallen 1.4% sequentially and 4.6% over levels for the same period a year ago, according to Lehman Brothers analyst Thomas R. Driscoll. Using final production numbers from 43 Lower 48 states and 14 Canadian producers, Driscoll estimated that U.S. production for 2002 will be down 5%-6% over a year ago, while Canada will have a 2.5% drop in production from 2001 levels.

Robert G. Phillips has been named chairman of the board of El Paso Energy Partners, at the same time El Paso Corp. Chairman William A. Wise, President H. Brent Austin, and another member of the corporation board, Malcolm Wallop, resigned from the partners board. El Paso Corp. is the general partner and owns 26% of El Paso Energy Partners. The company said the moves were “designed to align the partnership with certain corporate governance recommendations recently announced by the New York Stock Exchange. Phillips has been on the partners board since 1998.