Message-ID: <16483073.1075862135250.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 16:59:26 -0800 (PST) From: gasnews@mail.energycentral.com To: d..thomas@enron.com Subject: Daily Gas News - 11/23/01 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-From: "gasnews@mail.energycentral.com" X-To: Thomas, Paul D. X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \PTHOMAS2 (Non-Privileged)\Thomas, Paul D.\Deleted Items X-Origin: Thomas-P X-FileName: PTHOMAS2 (Non-Privileged).pst OpenLink Financial =09 [IMAGE]=09 [IMAGE] =09 HOME | GAS NEWS | EVENTS | JOBS | BUSINESS CENTERS | DIRECTORIES= | DATA CENTER FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2001 =09 =09 THIS ISSUE BROUGHT TO YOU BY ENERGIZE YOUR CAREER - The Energy= Central Job Center has a new look, new features, premier employers and is = updated daily! Visit the energy industry's largest on-line job center today= : http://www.energycentral.com/sections/jobs TOP STORIES Duke s= ays gets a key Canada ok in Westcoast deal NEW YORK, Nov. 21 (Reuters) Duk= e Energy Corp. on Wednesday said it had received approval from Canada's Bri= tish Columbia Utilities Commission to gain indirect control of the public u= tilities owned wholly or in part by Westcoast Energy Inc. FERC rule on = natgas shipping needs more work-industry By Chris Baltimore, WASHINGTON, N= ov 21 (Reuters) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) proposal = to loosen scheduling rules for natural gas pipeline shippers, meant to boos= t competition and supplies, could have the opposite effect, some companies = and industry groups told the agency this week. Missouri Utilities Win R= ound in Legal Battle against Regulators By Steve Everly, The Kansas City S= tar, Mo., Nov. 22 Missouri Gas Energy continued its fight Wednesday against= an emergency state rule meant to make it easier for disconnected gas custo= mers to regain service. Centrica expands gas field interests LONDON, N= ov. 22 (Reuters) - UK gas and home services group Centrica Plc said on Thur= sday it was expanding its gas assets, buying stakes in fields in the North = and Irish seas Press Release Atlantic Electric And Gas Underpins = Market Expansion With Powerful Billing System From SPL WorldGroup Morristo= wn, New Jersey - November 21st, 2001 Atlantic Electric and Gas, one of the = UK's few non-aligned energy suppliers which offers a 'fresh new approach' f= or Britain's residential and commercial energy users, has invested in a new= multi-million pound customer billing system to reinforce its customer serv= ice commitment. Caminus Corporation Completes Acquisition of Altra Ene= rgy Technologies' Software Business New York, NY - November 20, 2001 Camin= us Corporation, the energy industry's leading provider of software and stra= tegic consulting for energy trading and risk management in North America an= d Europe, today announced that it has closed its acquisition of the softwar= e operations of Altra Energy Technologies, Inc. The acquisition is being fi= nanced with 1.975 million shares of Caminus common stock and $25 million in= cash. Based on Caminus' closing share price of $17.91 on November 19, 2001= , the total purchase price for the acquisition is approximately $60 million= . California Crisis California Consumer Advocates Fear State Slas= h of Utility Aid Program By Dana Hull, San Jose Mercury News, Calif., Nov.= 22 Consumer advocates are worried that state legislators may slash nearly = $84 million dollars from CARE, the program that gives low-income customers = a 20 percent discount on their gas and electric bills. ADVERTISEME= NT Gain the competitive intelligence you need to make informed business = decisions. Energy Central's Operating Plant Experience Code (OPEC) is a mus= t for all aspects of analyzing nuclear power plant performance. Identify ca= uses of poor performance, compare lost generation trends, and set performan= ce criteria! Free trial - visit http://www.energycentral.com/sections/datab= ases/OPEC National Energy Policy Bush Energy Plan Enlists His= panic Support Nov 20, 2001 - United Press International Interior Secretary= Gale Norton hosted Hispanic business leaders Tuesday in a show of support = for the Bush administration's energy plan, which includes a controversial A= rctic oil exploration measure. Competition & Deregulation For repor= ts and related information on this topic visit our Data Center [IMAGE] = Ohio Public Utilities Officials Adopt Rules for Natural Gas Competition B= y Dave Truman, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio, Nov. 20 The Public Utilit= ies Commission of Ohio adopted rules for governing competitive retail natur= al gas providers Tuesday as outlined in March by state legislation. Me= rgers, Acquisitions & Divestitures Dynegy says seeking to speed up Enr= on acquisition HOUSTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) Dynegy Inc. said on Wednesday it = was seeking to speed up the planned acquisition of beleaguered energy tradi= ng company Enron Corp. WestLB makes a grab for pounds 1bn Wessex Water= Nov 21 - The Sunday Telegraph - London WESTLB, the German state-owned ban= k, is in talks to buy Wessex Water from its troubled US parent, Enron. = Enron Continues to Implode; Will the Dynegy Deal Proceed? By Will McNamar= a, IssueAlert, Nov. 21 (Scientech) Enron Corp. shares fell sharply in openi= ng trade on Nov. 20 after the humbled energy giant warned it could be force= d to pay by next week $690 million in debt triggered by a credit downgrade = last week. Special Offer from this Publisher! Gas Pricing/Hubs H= oliday weekend sends U.S. spot gas sharply lower SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 21 (Re= uters) U.S. spot natural gas prices were sent tumbling Wednesday as demand = was expected to dry up due to the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday= , dealers said. Canada gas drops ahead of weak U.S. holiday demand NE= W YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) Canadian spot natural gas prices fell dramatically= Wednesday in tandem with weak U.S. prices as traders looked for weak deman= d during the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, industry sources said. = NYMEX gas ends down only slightly despite bearish AGA NEW YORK, Nov 2= 1 (Reuters) NYMEX Hub gas, pressured lightly early Wednesday despite a sink= ing cash market, ended down only slightly even after the late release of a = bearish weekly inventory report, industry sources said. Alberta natgas= prices jump with weather, outages CALGARY, Alberta, Nov 22 (Reuters) Spot= natural gas prices in Alberta, one of the few Canadian markets not shut do= wn because of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, rallied Thursday on cool weath= er and minor production outages, sources said. Drilling/Exploration = Key Algerian oil, gas tenders attract world majors ALGIERS, Nov 22 (Reu= ters) An Algerian tender for the development of five key oil and gas projec= ts has attracted the interest of 14 international firms, including world oi= l majors such as BP Amoco and TotalElfFina, officials said on Thursday. = Futures Natural gas weaker on bearish AGA report Nov 23, 2001 (Tra= deSignals via COMTEX) -- Natural gas futures reversed back in a southerly d= irection in Wednesday's session as bearish AGA increase weighs on trade. = Nymex Natural Gas Review: Softer After Aga Injection Nov 21, 2001 - FWN= Financial News Natural gas futures closed lower after a report from the Am= erican Gas Association (AGA) showing that has been described as "doubly bea= rish." Dec Futures Sinks Despite Support from Thin Trade, Enron Woes = Nov. 21 (Btu's Daily Gas Wire) December natural gas futures settled 3.9 cen= ts lower at $2.813 as the market posted a minor sell-off following the rele= ase of a bearish American Gas Association storage report, said traders. Spe= cial Offer from this Publisher! Pipelines CRE Blames Tejas Gas F= or Incompletion Of Pipeline Project MEXICO CITY, Nov 21, 2001 (Reforma/Co= rporate Mexico by Internet Securities, Inc. via COMTEX) -- Tejas Gas' incom= pletion of a project to build a natural gas pipeline between Palmillas and = Toluca, in the state of Mexico, is a result of a lack of "efficiency," said= Raul Monteforte of the Energy Regulation Commission. Gas Pipeline Pro= ject Clears Its Final Hurdle Nov 20, 2001 - Australasian Business Intellig= ence The Esk Water Authority has discontinued its appeal against stage two = of Duke Energy International's $A450m Bass Strait gas pipeline. New Ga= s Pipeline to Link with Gove Nov 21, 2001 - Australasian Business Intellig= ence Nabalco is looking for Timor Sea gas to fuel a $A billion expansion pr= ogram at its Nhulunbuy alumina refinery. Rates For more information= on rate tariffs visit Gas Rate Tariffs [IMAGE] Regulators Tell Oklaho= ma Natural Gas Firm to Stop Recouping Fees By Russell Ray, Tulsa World, Ok= la., Nov. 21 Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. was officially ordered by state regul= ators Tuesday to halt its collection of last winter's gas costs from custom= ers beginning Dec. 1. Hampton Roads, Va.-Area Consumers to See Lower H= eating Bills This Year By Michael Davis, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.= , Nov. 20 One year after runaway heating costs busted budgets and ignited t= empers, Hampton Roads consumers may be in luck. Rigs Drilling Act= ivity Down in Western Canada Nov 21, 2001 - Resource News International Th= e number of Canadian oil and gas rigs active as of Tuesday, November 20, to= taled 314, down slightly from the previous week's 319, according to the Can= adian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC). Oil and Gas= Rig Count Down by 7 Nov 21 - Associated Press The number of rigs actively= exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States this week was down = seven to 986. Storage AGA says U.S. weekly natgas stocks rose 15 = bcf WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) The American Gas Association's estimate o= f working gas in storage (in bcf): General Georgia Regulators See= k Solution for Natural Gas Customers Without Service By Matthew C. Quinn, = The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nov. 21 State regulators mulled over seve= ral proposals Tuesday to provide a safety net for tens of thousands of natu= ral gas consumers who are currently without service, but an easy solution r= emains elusive. Joint Ventures & Alliances CNOOC, ALNG ink JV agr= eement Nov 22 - China Daily - North American Edition China National Offsho= re Oil Company Ltd (CNOOC Ltd), the nation's largest offshore oil and gas p= roducer, said it has agreed with Australia LNG (ALNG) to establish a joint = venture to develop natural gas in Australia. Trading/Marketing U.= S. energy traders scale back deals with Enron NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) U= .S. natural gas and electricity firms have further scaled back trading with= Enron Corp. this week, as fears mounted about the humbled energy giant's c= redit standing, industry sources said on Wednesday. Reliant launches U= .S. natgas consumption index HOUSTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) Houston-based energ= y company Reliant Resources Inc. said on Tuesday it had launched a new inde= x of U.S. natural gas consumption and a related risk management tool for na= tural gas traders. New gas marketplace to be set up in north-west Euro= pe Nov 22, 2001 (NORDIC BUSINESS REPORT via COMTEX) -- The Norwegian oil = and gas group Statoil has partnered with the German gas companies Ruhrgas a= nd BEB to establish a trading centre for natural gas. Legal Emplo= yee sues Enron, alleging $400,000 stock loss HOUSTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) An = Enron Corp. employee whose retirement savings were heavily invested in Enro= n stock has sued the company after losing $400,000 because of the sharp fal= l in the Houston-based energy giant's stock, his attorneys said. Peopl= e Constellation president Grubman resigns BALTIMORE, Nov 20 (Reuters)= Constellation Energy Group Inc., owner of Baltimore Gas and Electric, on T= uesday said Co-President Eric Grubman has resigned, effective Dec. 1, follo= wing the company's decision not split into two. Financial Enron T= ries to Pacify Worries as More Investors Decide to Sell Shares By Charlene= Oldham, The Dallas Morning News, Nov. 22 Faltering Houston energy trader E= nron Corp. tried to calm investors' worries Wednesday, announcing progress = in relieving its debt situation, but its stock lost a quarter of its value = for the second day in a row. Investors Push Shares of Phillips, Conoco= Higher after Merger Announcement By Russell Ray, Tulsa World, Okla., Nov.= 21 Shares of Phillips Petroleum Co. and Conoco Inc. continued to trek upwa= rd Tuesday, as the two prepare to merge to create the nation's leading refi= ner and retailer of gasoline. Accounts board to eye peer reviews amid = Enron furor By Kevin Drawbaugh, WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) The regulator= y panel that oversees big U.S. accounting firms plans to discuss concerns a= bout its "peer review" process and other issues at its next meeting in Dece= mber, the panel's chairman said on Tuesday. Enron crisis poses threat = to Oregon utility By Nigel Hunt, LOS ANGELES, Nov 21 (Reuters) Oregon's la= rgest utility, Portland General Electric, faces an uncertain future as its = parent Enron Corp. fights for its life amid a deepening financial crisis, i= ndustry experts said on Wednesday. International Japan AOC to exp= and US natural gas business TOKYO, Nov. 21 (Reuters) Japan's leading oil p= roducer, Arabian Oil Co Ltd (AOC), said on Wednesday it would spend about 5= .0 billion yen ($40.78 million) to expand its natural gas exploration busin= ess in the United States. Brazil: Petrobras to penetrate in energy mar= ket Brazil, Nov 21, 2001 (O Estado de Sao Paulo/SABI via COMTEX) -- The B= razilian state owned oil and gas company Petrobras starts in December a new= chapter of its story when the thermal electric power plant Piratininga sta= rts up. Gas Is a Seven-Way Business in Spain Nov 21, 2001 - FT World = Media Abstracts via Comtex After fiercely resisting the liberalisation of t= heir markets, Spanish energy companies have changed their strategy virtuall= y overnight to become multi-utilities, announcing huge investments to opera= te and compete in the different energy markets. Chinese Oil Giant Take= s Stake in NW Shelf Nov 21, 2001 - Australasian Business Intelligence A ma= jor Chinese oil company is to take an equity stake in the North West (NW) S= helf gas project. Gdf Plans to Expand in Italy Nov 22, 2001 - FT Worl= d Media Abstracts via Comtex French group Gaz de France (GdF) has announced= that it is interested in expanding on the Italian energy market and that i= t is in contact with Italian gas distribution group Snam and a number of ot= her groups in Italy. ENI should sell gas storage ops to free up gas mk= t - antitrust body Nov 20 - AFX ENI SpA should dispose of its gas storage = business as well as its transport activities in order to obtain a full libe= ralisation of the gas market, said Giuseppe Tesauro, chairman of the antitr= ust authority. Ferngas Nordbayern Must Open Network to Natgas Nov 21,= 2001 - FT World Media Abstracts via Comtex Ferngas Nordbayern GmbH, the Ge= rman regional gas supplier, must allow fellow German gas supplier Natgas AG= to use its network for the piping of gas from Austria to a Natgas customer= , following a court ruling. Wintershall Aims for Alliance on The Gas M= arket Nov 21, 2001 - FT World Media Abstracts via Comtex Wintershall AG, t= he German energy group, is aiming to get in on the act while the rest of th= e market continues to bind closer together If you are an Energy Cent= ral News Subscriber and you have checked any news articles above, selecting= the 'Get Articles' button below will deliver all of the checked articles i= n one page. This is a convenient way to get exactly the news you need - qui= ckly! NEED INFORMATION ON THE POWER INDUSTRY? ENERGY CENTRAL'S GO= T IT! ENERGY CENTRAL DAILY ELECTRIC POWER NEWS An e-mail news service = that delivers every major story every day directly to your e-mail address. = Inquire for corporate and group discount rates. sales@energycentral.com J= OB CENTER The Job Center provides instant access to the best employment op= portunities and prospective employees in the energy industry through compre= hensive job listings and active resume database. 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