Solution

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last Wednesday gave the natural gas market a short-term window of opportunity — through the winter — to straighten out the market’s private and confidential price reporting and index-setting system through voluntary reporting of gas transactions to index developers or face more onerous government-mandated price reporting requirements down the road.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Wednesday gave the natural gas market a short-term window of opportunity — through the winter — to straighten out the market’s private and confidential price reporting and index-setting system by reporting their gas transactions to index developers or face more onerous government-mandated price reporting requirements.

More fuel switching is the only “logical, near-term solution” to balance supply and demand for natural gas going forward, according to latest Raymond James’ Energy “Stat of the Week.” Fuel switching has to occur, said analysts, to “squeeze out 5 Bcf/d of natural gas demand.”

More fuel switching is the only “logical, near-term solution” to balance supply and demand for natural gas going forward, according to latest Raymond James’ Energy “Stat of the Week.” Fuel switching has to occur, said analysts, to “squeeze out 5 Bcf/d of natural gas demand.”

Westcoast declared a force majeure Tuesday at its McMahon Gas Plant after “MEA [monoethanol amine] solution foaming increased dramatically” during Monday evening and Tuesday morning. The foaming reduced McMahon raw gas treatment capacity from 630 MMcf/d to 437 MMcf/d as of Tuesday afternoon. Westcoast said it was acid washing affected MEA contactors, and expected to have full processing capacity restored this morning.

In the absence of a state legislative solution or another negotiated settlement to rescue financially troubled Southern California Edison Co. from bankruptcy, a small Long Beach, CA-based street lighting company is continuing its longshot quest to buy the utility and its parent, Edison International, by establishing a network of cities and townships served by Edison to ensure the deal’s economic and political viability.

Importing liquefied natural gas is “one part of the solution” to help supply an expected natural gas shortfall of 8 Bcf/d by 2010, according to Houston researcher Industrial Information Resources Inc. (IIR). It noted that by the end of the decade, U.S. consumption will reach 30 Bcf/d, and LNG imports will play an “increasingly important role” to power new natural gas-fired plants now under construction.

Importing liquefied natural gas is “one part of the solution” to help supply an expected natural gas shortfall of 8 Bcf/d by 2010, according to Houston researcher Industrial Information Resources Inc. (IIR). It noted that by the end of the decade, U.S. consumption will reach 30 Bcf/d, and LNG imports will play an “increasingly important role” to power new natural gas-fired plants now under construction.

With the ultimate energy solution dependent on a historic public bond sale targeted for August, the state of California last week got a preview of how Wall Street might view state offerings with the completion of a $1 billion general obligation bond sale. An official close to the State Treasurer Phil Angelides said the state’s banker was generally pleased with the results and optimistic for the $12.4 billion electricity bond sale in August.