Upcoming

May natural gas futures gained ground in active trading Wednesday as traders covered short positions in seeking to minimize exposure over the upcoming three-day weekend and not get caught on the wrong side of what could be a developing market trend. At the end of the day May had risen 4.8 cents to $4.310 and June gained 4.7 cents to $4.357. May crude oil vaulted higher $3.17 to $111.45/bbl.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said Friday it will consider at its upcoming meeting Thursday ordering Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) to face a show-cause hearing over what the regulators consider the utility’s lack of compliance in the state and federal investigations of the Sept. 9 natural gas transmission pipeline rupture in San Bruno, CA.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will consider at its upcoming meeting Thursday whether to order Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) to face a show-cause hearing over what the regulators consider the utility’s lack of compliance in the state and federal investigations of the Sept. 9 natural gas transmission pipeline rupture in San Bruno, CA.

Due to moderately higher fuel prices and anticipated milder weather for the upcoming heating season, only a modest rise in household heating bills is expected for many U.S. customers this winter, according to the Short-Term and Winter Fuels Energy Outlook released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) last Wednesday.

Due to moderately higher fuel prices and anticipated milder weather for the upcoming heating season, only a modest rise in household heating bills is expected for many U.S. customers this winter, according to the Short-Term and Winter Fuels Energy Outlook released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) Wednesday.

A coalition of energy firms has called on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to issue a one-year blanket exclusion from upcoming over-the-counter (OTC) market derivatives rules.

Rapid warming of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and a collapsing El Nino pattern in the Pacific could create 16-18 named storms during the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which would make 2010 one of the most active seasons on record, according to AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi.

Rapid warming of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and a collapsing El Nino pattern in the Pacific could create 16-18 named storms during the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which would make 2010 one of the most active seasons on record, according to AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi.

There will be significantly more hurricanes during the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season than there were in 2009, according to Andover, MA-based WSI Corp., which increased its 2010 forecast to include 16 named storms, including nine hurricanes, five of them intense (Category Three or greater). The 2010 hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1, could be the most active since 2005, WSI said.