Setting

Houston-based Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. is expandingits natural gas business, setting up a downstream office inProvidence, RI to market to industrial and commercial customers.

The Philadelphia Gas Commission’s (PGC) long term role as soleregulator of Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) is coming to an end. PGWwill have to answer to a new governing body, the PennsylvaniaPublic Utility Commission (PUC). The state agency will now set theutility’s rates, as well as follow up on customer complaints andconcerns.

The Philadelphia Gas Commission’s (PGC) long term role as soleregulator of Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) is coming to an end. PGWwill have to answer to a new governing body, the PennsylvaniaPublic Utility Commission (PUC). The state agency will now set theutility’s rates, as well as follow up on customer complaints andconcerns.

Some Capitol Hill lawmakers and energy experts believe theUnited States may be setting itself for another energy crisis 10 to20 years down the road by relying to heavily on natural gas to fuelnew power generation facilities.

Some Capitol Hill lawmakers and energy experts believe theUnited States may be setting itself up for another energy crisis 10to 20 years down the road by relying too heavily on natural gas tofuel new power generation facilities.

Led by follow-through buying, record-setting heat out West, anda constructive over-the-counter market, natural gas futures eruptedhigher at the open yesterday as buyers propelled the market to newthree and a half year highs. The rally was short-lived, however,and after posting a $3.985 high during the first hour of trading,the June contract tumbled lower under a wave of selling pressure tofinish at $3.747, down 7.8 cents on the day. Estimated volume wasextremely heavy, with 134,429 contracts changing hands.

Much like on the East Coast a couple of weeks ago, arecord-setting heat wave set in over the weekend in California andthe desert Southwest. The effect on western peaking power pricesMonday wasn’t nearly as dramatic as the $6,000/MWh numbers hitearlier this month in the New England pool; however, gas pricesshowed a much greater impact this time.

Setting aside vociferous local opposition from nearby propertyowners and a proposed denial from one of its administrative lawjudges (ALJ), the California Public Utilities Commission Thursdaygave the go-ahead to a proposed $80 million underground natural gasstorage field near Lodi in Northern California.

As the dot.com stocks begin to lose a “little bit of theirluster,” Wall Street investors quickly are setting their sights oncompanies that are involved in the production of fuel-celltechnology for the energy market, as well as the individualutilities that are “embracing” the new technology, a Wall Streetanalyst says.