Think

Natural gas demand will not be up as much as many people think because “giddy gas bulls” are ignoring an expected increase of hydroelectric output, which likely will displace a lot of West Coast generation this summer, a Raymond James & Associate energy analyst said Monday.

An economic think tank predicts a rosy future for Canadian natural gas, but in the industry all bets are off on when a turn for the better might come.

Black Hills Corp. expects to close its purchase of Aquila utility assets in four states in the first quarter next year, and the company would reconsider buying its South Dakota-based neighbor NorthWestern Energy Corp. since that company’s merger with Australia’s Babcock & Brown (B&B) was thwarted by Montana regulators, Black Hills CFO Mark Thies said Friday.

An economic think tank predicts a rosy future for Canadian natural gas, but in the industry all bets are off on when a turn for the better might come.

Black Hills Corp. expects to close its purchase of Aquila utility assets in four states in the first quarter next year, and the company would reconsider buying its South Dakota-based neighbor NorthWestern Energy Corp. since that company’s merger with Australia’s Babcock & Brown (B&B) was thwarted by Montana regulators, Black Hills CFO Mark Thies said Friday.

With record natural gas storage inventories and a lack of winter weather (until this week), some may not think it’s the time to talk about expanding North American storage facilities. But those in the know would beg to differ.

Former Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth Lay will not receive his requested mid-September trial date. However, the Houston judge presiding over the case said he will likely decide by early October whether Lay will be tried with his alleged co-conspirators, ex-CEO Jeffrey Skilling and former chief accountant Richard Causey.

Industrial consumers are getting the message and saying the time has come to think about switching fuels in Canada, as natural gas prices climb north of the border in step with markets in the United States.

Industrial consumers are getting the message and saying the time has come to think about switching fuels in Canada, as natural gas prices climb north of the border in step with markets in the United States.