Sinking

Projecting linepack sinking below its minimum target levels over the next few days, Pacific Gas & Electric issued a systemwide Stage 3 low-inventory OFO for today. The OFO carries penalties of $5/Dth. The tolerance for negative daily imbalances is minus 2%.

With gas and electric utility stocks continuing to probe thedepths after a brief spike in a January fuel-cell frenzy, someobservers and executives are keeping their eyes peeled for the nextseries of corporate takeovers in the industry.

With gas and electric utility stocks continuing to probe thedepths after a brief spike in a January fuel-cell frenzy, someobservers and executives are keeping their eyes peeled for the nextseries of corporate takeovers in the industry.

California’s top energy regulator thinks the momentum forrestructuring the state’s natural gas industry has lost most of itssteam. Responding to questions during a break at a statewide energyroundtable in San Diego last Tuesday, Richard Bilas, president ofthe California Public Utilities Commission, said he is unsure whenthe regulators will be able to make recommendations to the statelegislature for further gas unbundling.

California’s top energy regulator thinks the momentum forrestructuring the state’s natural gas industry has lost most of itssteam. Responding to questions during a break at a statewide energyroundtable in San Diego Tuesday, Richard Bilas, president of theCalifornia Public Utilities Commission, said he is unsure whenregulators will be able to make recommendations to the statelegislature for further gas unbundling.

Columbia Energy won’t be sinking dollars into a statewide brandadvertising campaign in Georgia like several other retail marketersdid prior to Nov. 1 start-up. Instead, the company plans anaggressive direct marketing program that focuses on attractivepricing and customer service. Columbia is offering Atlanta GasLight (AGL) customers a guaranteed bundled gas delivery price of39.9 cents per therm, a savings on gas costs of 18% for residentialcustomers and 19% for small commercial buyers compared to AGL’scharges over the last six months.