Summer

For the second time this summer, Canadian natural gas producershave voted with their pocketbooks to revive northern drilling andexpectations that an Arctic pipeline will be built.

For the second time this summer, Canadian natural gas producershave voted with their pocketbooks to revive northern drilling andexpectations that an Arctic pipeline will be built.

Despite the tense situation in the power industry and thenumerous power alerts so far this summer, a new study by J.D. Powerand Associates and Navigant Consulting found that electric utilitycustomer satisfaction actually has improved this year and theaverage length of the longest power outage declined. Nationwideabout 65% of residential customers reported that they are extremelyor very satisfied with their electric utility provider.

Despite the tense situation in the power industry and the numerous power alerts so far this summer, a new study by J.D. Power and Associates and Navigant Consulting found that electric utility customer satisfaction actually has improved this year and the average length of the longest power outage declined. Nationwide about 65% of residential customers reported that they are extremely or very satisfied with their electric utility provider.

With transmission grids struggling with each new summer heatwave, an aspiring California-based company pushing off-gridmicroturbines, Capstone Turbine Corp., launched a successfulinitial public offering (IPO) Thursday, raising $130 million, andclosing the first day of trading, June 29, at almost $48/share,three times the initial asking price of $16. Friday’s close was$45.06 after hitting a high for the day of $49-plus.

With transmission grids struggling with each new summer heatwave, an aspiring California-based company pushing off-gridmicroturbines, Capstone Turbine Corp., launched a successfulinitial public offering (IPO) Thursday, raising $130 million, andclosing the first day of trading, June 29, at almost $48/share,three times the initial asking price of $16. Friday’s close was$45.06 after hitting a high for the day of $49-plus.

NOVA will be reducing its system linepack target this week from395 e6m3 (about 13.956 Bcf) to 390 e6m3 (13.781 Bcf) in preparationfor upcoming summer operations. The reductions will be made in evenincrements today through Friday. The change is due to increasingambient and ground temperatures, NOVA said. It included in thedetermination of linepack an adjustment to account for changes inthe system’s average heating value. NOVA will not be sellinglinepack to reach its desired target.

Kern River is accepting bids through this afternoon in an openseason for summer firm capacity from May 1 through Nov. 30. Theavailable space will vary by month, ranging from lows of 25 MMcf/din August and November to a high of 53 MMcf/d in May. The pipelinewill consider fixed-price and indexed bids. Call Jeff Leishman at(801) 584-6682 or Dave Stevens at -7101 for more information.

Power breakdowns this summer could spur Congress to act onelectric restructuring legislation, but crisis legislation in anelection year could do more harm than good, two political expertstold GasMart/Power 2000 attendees yesterday.