Sector

Thanks to its acquisition of Dominion’s natural gas exploration and production business, longtime coal giant Consol Energy is making its name in the natural gas sector as the Canonsburg, PA-based diversified energy producer continues to analyze its position in the Marcellus and Utica shales.

With 2Q2010 earnings results now in the rearview mirror, energy analysts covering the domestic exploration and production (E&P) sector paused to review what they saw in the earnings reports and what they heard in the conference calls. What they concluded isn’t necessarily a pretty picture for the second half of this year.

With 2Q2010 earnings results now in the rearview mirror, energy analysts covering the domestic exploration and production (E&P) sector paused to review what they saw in the earnings reports and what they heard in the conference calls. What they concluded isn’t necessarily a pretty picture for the second half of this year.

French-based exploration/production company Total SA, just as many of its major global competitors in the traditional energy sector are doing, is branching out to the alternative energy space as a response to climate change policies pushing to shrink the world’s carbon footprint.

French-based exploration/production company Total SA, just as many of its major global competitors in the traditional energy sector are doing, is branching out to the alternative energy space as a response to climate change policies pushing to shrink the world’s carbon footprint.

California’s major private-sector energy utilities have been unable to develop a policy on service shutoffs, which have been skyrocketing in recent months, so the state regulatory commission plans to mandate a new policy, according to comments Thursday by the state’s top regulator. Michael Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), indicated that he and his colleagues will outline a new approach in February.

California’s major private-sector energy utilities have been unable to develop a policy on service shutoffs, which have been skyrocketing in recent months, so the state regulatory commission plans to mandate a new policy, according to comments Thursday by the state’s top regulator. Michael Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), indicated that he and his colleagues will outline a new approach in February.

While pre-paid, long-term natural gas purchases by consortiums of public-sector utilities are still attracting attention, at least one major muni financing arm, the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), has moved away from prepaid gas. Instead, SCPPA is adding natural gas reserves and carrying out almost a perpetual bidding program for new renewable projects.

Peeking behind the $2.9 billion California regulators intend to spend on energy efficiency programs implemented by the state’s major private-sector utilities, the plans appear to be driven by a combination of technology and political/regulatory advancements.