Daily GPI

A white paper released by Prosper Business Development Corp.outlines three phases of revolution occurring in the energyindustry and explains three mistakes marketers must avoid to ensuresuccess in the competitive marketplace. The paper addressesdifferences from telecommunications deregulation and warns of ashakeout for energy marketing executives who fail to respond to thederegulating market.

The major accord signed by Canadian gas industry stakeholders lastweek that virtually assures construction of the Alliance Pipelineproject (See GPI Daily, April 9) hasmade the fate of the competing 1.4 Bcf/d Viking Voyageur projectextremely doubtful. Voyageur sponsors TransCanada PipeLines andNorthern States Power were in meetings all day Monday and Tuesday andan announcement is expected later this week. One Voyageur officialsaid all options are possible, including shelving the 800-milepipeline project.

Amoco’s $1.9 Billion North American exploration and productiondivestment to focus on top producing areas is nearly complete.”These divestments allow us to focus our resources on the mostpromising producing areas in our exploration and productionportfolio, which has given us a higher quality asset position inNorth America,” said L. Richard Flury, executive vice president forexploration and production. “We believe this rationalized assetposition is a step toward reaching our corporate goal of 15% returnon capital employed by 2001.”

Pacific Gas and Electric started its second auction of electricgenerating plants in Northern California, placing four gas-firedpower plants and the company’s geothermal facilities on the blockthis week. The auctions are in support of California’s move towardfull competition in the energy utility industry.

Enron Corp. announced first quarter earnings and reportedincreased operating results in each of its core business groups.The company also reported another loss for Enron Energy Servicesdue to start-up costs.

The Canadian Province of Nova Scotia told FERC it is concernedit could loose royalty revenue and pay higher rates on theMaritimes and Northeast pipeline as a result of Maritimes recentrequest to defer Phase I pipeline construction costs and servicefor one year. Maritimes told FERC last month its only Phase Ishipper, affiliate Duke Energy, exercised a provision in itscontract with the pipeline allowing it to defer using its firmtransportation on the line by a year.

Cold weather helped many Western points avoid the prices dropsin the East that generally ranged from a nickel to 15 centsTuesday. It was snowing Monday and Tuesday in the Salt Lake Cityarea and that is expected to continue today, a trader told DailyGPI. Only the Southwest basins and Waha were left out of the West’sfirmness, likely because they were getting no demand support at allfrom intrastate Texas and Midwest markets, sources said.

The May Nymex contract took time out to lick its wounds Tuesdayby gaining 2.2 cents to settle the day at $2.501. Several longtraders were concerned that May would add to its massive 17.8 centloss turned in on Monday, but good buying from the outset kept Mayat either side of $2.50 throughout the session.

The futures screen “fell like a rock” Monday and, of course,cash prices then had to do likewise, said a Gulf Coast producer.Some points were essentially flat, such as Northwest (both domesticand Sumas) and NorAm-east. Others dropped 2-9 cents, with declinesof a nickel most common. Activity was fairly light, especiallysince some traders hadn’t returned yet from the holiday weekend, amarketer noted. But what prices lacked in volume they made up involatility as a number of points saw double-digit ranges. Onesource said his Chicago deals went from $2.64 early on to $2.49 atthe end.