Winter

Aboriginal and environmental protesters have learned for the second time this winter that they have lost their old power to freeze natural gas development out of northern Canada.

Following a long holiday weekend in which severe winter weather in the East snarled transportation, left many without power and even brought a quite rare snow event to South Texas, the prospect for more moderate conditions this week resulted in price drops across the board Monday.

Drawing support from a bit of post-winter chill lingering across the northern tier of states and moderate increases in air conditioning in parts of the southern tier, cash prices recorded mild advances at the great majority of points Wednesday.

After surviving a second winter of higher commodity prices in good shape — at least on the surface — local distribution companies (LDCs) will need continued regulatory support that gives them the tools to capture costs and maintain credit quality, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said in a new report.

After surviving a second winter of higher commodity prices in good shape — at least on the surface — local distribution companies (LDCs) will need continued regulatory support that gives them the tools to capture costs and maintain credit quality, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said in a new report.

Predictions of a late-winter storm expected to bring snow and sleet (“perhaps a lot in some locations,” according to The Weather Channel) to eastern parts of the South Thursday helped to generate small rallies at most eastern points Wednesday. Virtually all increases were less than a dime, while a few scattered points were flat to barely lower.

Winter storms and an OFO caused big price jumps Monday in the West, while freezing low temperatures in the Upper Plains and Midwest helped generate sizeable gains there and in the Midcontinent supply area. Elsewhere in the market numbers were mixed but mostly lower as the near-term forecasts remained relatively moderate for the end of December.

Winter made its official debut Sunday, but outside of the Rockies and Upper Plains there was little evidence of the season Monday. Forecasts of continuing relatively mild weather through the weekend helped accelerate the price declines that had begun Friday. Monday’s losses were generally in the range of 35-85 cents, with most exceeding half a dollar.

Though it opened and closed at almost the same level, the natural gas futures market was anything but a kiddie’s ride Tuesday as waves of buying and selling led prices on a roller coaster of trading activity.