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UtiliCorp Energy Management (UEM) has been awarded a three-yearcontract to manage the energy requirements of Ash Grove Cement, anOverland Park, Kan.-based company operating facilities in ninewestern states. Financial terms of the agreement were notdisclosed. UEM will manage the cement company’s energy procurement,supply management, contract negotiations, and reporting and billingservices, as well as identify and implement energy cost reductionstrategies. UEM said the deal was important because it improves thegeographic presence of the company. Ash Grove Cement annually usesmore than 6.5 Bcf and 600,000 MWh at its facilities.

After prices nose-dived during September’s first three days oftrading, a number of traders thought they would never get back toindex levels during the month. Then after steady increases in theweek after Labor Day put quite a few points around or near indexesagain, there were those who said prices were likely to weaken butcertainly wouldn’t plunge to those early-September depths again.

Three Pennsylvania LDCs filed restructuring plans with thePennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) last week to expandsupplier choice within the state. Filing plans were Columbia Gas ofPennsylvania, Peoples Natural Gas and PG Energy, a subsidiary ofPennsylvania Enterprises Inc. As part of the Natural Gas Choice andCompetition Act passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly June17, each gas utility is required to submit a restructuring plan tothe PUC by Nov. 1.

Three Pennsylvania LDCs filed restructuring plans with thePennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) last week to expandsupplier choice within the state. Filing plans were Columbia Gas ofPennsylvania, Peoples Natural Gas and PG Energy, a subsidiary ofPennsylvania Enterprises Inc. As part of the Natural Gas Choice andCompetition Act passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly June17, each gas utility is required to submit a restructuring plan tothe PUC by Nov. 1.

New to the scene as of three months ago, privately held CanadianMidstream Services Ltd. (CMSL) made its first acquisition when itacquired a significant interest in sour natural gas processingfacilities in west central Alberta from Poco Petroleum. Formed inCalgary by four former executives of Pan East Petroleum, which wasbought by Poco in December, CMSL aims to capitalize on assetacquisition opportunities.

Enron Energy Services (EES) inked its second major energymanagement outsourcing contract in the last three months Tuesday,as Suiza Food Corp., a Dallas-based manufacturer and distributor ofdairy products, agreed to receive comprehensive energy managementservices at more than 50 manufacturing facilities in 24 states.Although no amounts were disclosed, Enron did say the ten-year dealis its biggest outsourcing contract.

After a volatile three days of seller-dominated trading Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday last week, the futures market was quietFriday as light pre-weekend short covering was almost perfectlymatched by follow-through selling. The August contract could manageonly a 4.5-cent trading range before finishing 0.1 cents higher forthe day at $2.163. Estimated volume was relatively modest, with55,158 contracts changing hands.

Two would go by sea, and now one would travel on land, makingfor three brand new pipeline projects targeting the Floridapeninsula and the state’s substantial growth in power generationgas demand.

Two would go by sea, and now one would travel on land, making for three brand new pipeline projects targeting the Florida peninsula and the state’s substantial growth in power generation gas demand.