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More security. More electronic commerce solutions. Moreflexibility. Those are a few of the reasons that e-commerce leaderAltra Energy Technologies Inc. announced yesterday it will upgradeits Internet web-based services by using Extensible MarkupLanguage, or XML, to integrate its AltraWeb Product. XML is aprecise, cutting-edge version of its forerunner, hypertext markuplanguage (HTML), the basic language used to communicate on theWorld Wide Web.

Those who expected the swing cash market to use Mondayafternoon’s cash run-up and continued futures strength Tuesdaymorning as a springboard were not disappointed. Late-March quoteswere moving higher by double-digit amounts at nearly every point inall market areas, although few increases exceeded 10-12 centsexcept in the Rockies and Northeast.

Those bemoaning the lackluster performance of integrated gas andutility stocks can blame their woes, at least in part, on theInternet and the technology revolution, according to one analyst.Prudential Securities’ Carol Coale said investors have beenshifting their attention, and their dollars, from the “old economy”to a new one. “Whether it’s Internet or high-tech, we’re seeing amajor sector shift,” she told NGI. Also to blame, Coale said in aPrudential research note, is bearish gas market sentiment.

Those bemoaning the lackluster performance of integrated gas andutility stocks can blame their woes, at least in part, on theInternet and the technology revolution, according to one analyst.Prudential Securities’ Carol Coale said investors have beenshifting their attention, and their dollars, from the “old economy”to a new one. “Whether it’s Internet or high-tech, we’re seeing amajor sector shift,” she told Daily GPI. Also to blame, Coale saidin a Prudential research note, is bearish gas market sentiment.

Commissioners Linda K. Breathitt and Vicky A. Bailey last weekjoined the club of those confused about when, if ever, FERC mightsettle the huge number of gas issues that have been on its platefor more than a year. Much to the chagrin of the industry, whichhas been anticipating some type of FERC action soon, Breathittindicated it would take up to six more months, while Baileypredicted the Commission would be delivering a package of gasdecisions by Christmas.

Commissioners Linda K. Breathitt and Vicky A. Bailey this weekjoined the club of those confused about when, if ever, FERC mightsettle the huge number of gas issues that have been on its platefor more than a year. Early in the week, Breathitt indicated itwould take up to six more months, while Bailey said yesterday theCommission would be delivering a package of gas decisions byChristmas.

Unlike those given to Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) and National FuelGas Distribution, the exemption to the shipper-must-have-titlepolicy awarded to Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E) was”unnecessary” and represented an “unacknowledged policy shift” byFERC, said Exxon Corp. It warned the Commission’s decision inBG&E could open up the floodgates to similar requests from themultitude of LDCs that are looking to unbundle their systems.

Storms and screen-those were the two big “S” words thatdominated trader conversations Monday. Yet despite weekend lossesof South Texas production to Hurricane Bret, more tropicaldisturbances lining up in the Atlantic and a spectacular push bythe September Henry Hub futures contract to finish above $3, cashprices found themselves hard-pressed to do much more than standtheir ground. Except for some small upticks in the West, mostpoints saw little if any price movement.

For those seeking to sell energy in a competitive environment,it’s a happy coincidence widespread consumer use of the Internethas come about at the same time deregulation of gas and powerunfolds. Several Internet sites have been established to simplifyshopping for consumers and reduce the cost to marketers of reachingsales prospects.