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The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has approved a multi-year rate plan for Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to increase annual limits for natural gas and electricity rates over the next three to four years. PSE’s gas rates would increase by $9.1 million, or 1.55%, and power rates would increase by $52.3 million, or 3.34%, effective Monday (July 1). Rates may increase over the period by a maximum of 3%, with any excess amounts recovered the following year. Also as part of the approval, UTC separated utility profits from sales levels. The so-called “decoupling” allows the utility to recover fixed costs regardless of how much gas and electricity it sells.

Cash quotes overall fell 7 cents Tuesday as Northeast points reacted to an expected moderation in temperatures as well as weaker power prices and led the march lower. Eastern points weren’t too far behind, and gas for delivery Wednesday into the Great Lakes area slid about a nickel. July natural gas slid 9.2 cents to $3.647 and August dropped 9.0 cents to $3.670. August crude oil added 14 cents to $95.32/bbl.

The White House climate action plan, announced in a speech Tuesday, comes down hard on coal-fired power plants, pledges continued support for the development and use of non-polluting renewable energy and promotes “cleaner-burning natural gas” as a bridge to a clean future.

Temperatures across almost all of the United States will average warmer than normal over the next three months, though the Southeast and Ohio Valley may get some cooler breaks, according to a seasonal forecast released Tuesday by Weather Services International (WSI).

There are familiar names, matched to familiar brands, on the latest compilation of the world’s wealthiest individuals. At No. 1 is Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helu, 73, whose net worth of $73 billion was made from the telecommunications industry. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 57, with $67 billion is in second place, followed by Spain’s Amancio Ortega, 77, with $57 billion. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s Warren Buffett, 82, has $53.5 billion for the No. 4 position, while Oracle Inc.’s Larry Ellison, 68, rounds out the top five with an estimated net worth of $43 billion.

Up to 40 Bcf/d of firm capacity contracts on pipelines is expected to expire by 2015, which would affect the “vast majority” of pipelines that transport natural gas to the Northeast, said an executive with Massachusetts-based Skipping Stone.

Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) Chairman Barry Smitherman plans to run for Texas attorney general (AG) next year, but only if current AG and fellow conservative Greg Abbott does not seek re-election. An AG’s office headed by Smitherman would be pro-drilling and a staunch opponent of federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation.

Houston-based and Alaska-focused Buccaneer Energy, which has struggled to fund its Cook Inlet drilling program as its shares have languished, is facing a move to replace its entire board by two dissident shareholder groups that argue the company needs to streamline its operations and tone down its ambitions.

Following key pipeline infrastructure upgrades over the past two years, MDU Resources Inc.’s Boise, ID-based Intermountain Gas Co. has told Idaho state regulators it should be able to serve the natural gas needs of the southern part of the state without any significant new capital projects during the next five years.