Talks

Denver-based Western Gas Resources (WGR) reported last week thatits net income for the fourth quarter and end-of-year reachedall-time highs during 2000. The independent diversified natural gascompany posted fourth quarter net income of $18.1 million ($0.47per share), compared to a loss of $1.2 million ($0.12 per share) in1999 for the same time period.

For all of the talk that President George W. Bush’s team willsecure an energy agreement with Mexican President Vicente Fox, itappears that’s all it is, big talk. When they hold their firstofficial meeting today, they may forge stronger ties, but aneighborly energy policy to open electricity markets to competitionis, at best, a long-range (pipe) dream.

Denver-based Western Gas Resources (WGR) reported yesterday thatits net income for the fourth quarter and end-of-year reachedall-time highs during 2000. The independent diversified natural gascompany posted fourth quarter net income of $18.1 million ($0.47per share), compared to a loss of $1.2 million ($0.12 per share) in1999 for the same time period.

Westcoast Energy reported yesterday that shippers fully renewedall firm service on its Southern mainline, as well as on keysegments of its Northern mainline. The announcement comes afterWestcoast last September said it was extending the shipper renewaldate to Jan. 31 for service beginning on Nov. 1.

Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK) emerged from a 45-minute meetingwith Vice President Richard Cheney yesterday to announce that theRepublican leaders in the Senate will introduce their wide-rangingenergy bill “early next week.”

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker held a teleconference lastThursday with officials from three trade associations representinginterstate pipelines, major producers and independent producers todiscuss spiraling natural gas prices.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker held a three-way teleconferenceThursday with officials from three trade associations representingpipelines, major producers and independent producers to discussspiraling natural gas prices.

With the Supreme Court last week effectively handing the keys tothe White House to now President-elect George W. Bush, speculationhas escalated in Washington D.C. over who will be tapped as thenext FERC chairman under a Republican administration.

With the Supreme Court decision in effect handing the presidencyto Texas Gov. George W. Bush, speculation has escalated inWashington D.C. over who will be named the next FERC chairman undera Republican administration.