Yearly

Three of Pennsylvania’s energy companies may realize yearly savings of up to $233,400 and one-time savings up to $241,000 by implementing recommendations of a recent audit, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) said Friday.

With hurricane-related shut-ins damping down nearly 7% of the Gulf of Mexico’s yearly natural gas production, liquefied natural gas (LNG) may be a “supply of last resort” for the coming winter heating season, according to an analysis by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA). However, additional LNG imports may not be available because of global competition, the Massachusetts-based consultant reported.

Turning around its quarterly earnings to post a gain, Chicago-based Peoples Energy on Friday posted net income for the fourth quarter ended Sept. 30 of $1.7 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared with a loss of $13 million, or ($0.37) per share. Peoples beat a Thomson First Call consensus estimate of 2 cents a share for the period.

Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Mexico’s state-run oil and gas monopoly, expects its non-associated natural gas to become almost half of its yearly production by 2006. Pemex has a goal to produce 7 Bcf/d by 2006, with 15% from new deposits, it said Tuesday.

Despite a disappointing fourth quarter, full year operating earnings in 2001 for 39 natural gas distribution companies, including elements of larger gas and electric companies, were up 6% over 2000 on a revenue increase of 19%, according to Energy Performance Review (EPR).