Top News
Seeing capacity shortage, California may keep gas plants, order more resources
An administrative law judge with the California Public Utilities Commission on Sept. 12 proposed to require Southern California Edison Co. and other electric service providers on that utility's transmission system to solicit 2,500 MW of generation capacity to address potential power shortages beginning in 2021.
In 2020, gas glut will push prices down to 1970s lows, research firm forecasts
Natural gas prices are likely to slump in 2020 to adjusted levels not seen since the 1970s, pressured by surging supply from western Texas that will heap pain on gas drillers and force companies to pull back on spending, according to a forecast by industry research firm IHS Markit.
Enbridge says regulator lacks authority to intercede in toll-change plan
The Canada Energy Regulator does not have the authority to intervene in Enbridge Inc.'s ongoing open season to contract space on the nation's biggest oil-export conduit, the pipeline giant said in a filing.
National Coal Council focuses on new technologies to help struggling industry
The federal advisory committee focused on coal for the U.S. Department of Energy devoted much of its annual fall meeting to discussing technologies that may provide opportunities for the struggling coal sector.
Quoted
"What we expect from all of this is some serious cash flow challenges in 2020, and that ... outside of Appalachia — in the smaller producers — there's going to be a lot of struggle. It's going to be a rough year for the industry," said Samuel Andrus, executive director of IHS Markit, which forecast that natural gas prices are likely to slump in 2020 to levels not seen since the 1970s, pressured by surging supply from western Texas that will heap pain on gas drillers and force companies to pull back on spending.
Power
* As environmentalists try to accelerate the retirement of U.S. coal plants, a central question remains: who will pay the costs of shutting them down?
* The Trump administration on Sept. 12 formally repealed the Obama-era Clean Water Rule, setting the stage for the finalizing of a proposal that would significantly curtail federal protections for the nation's wetlands and waterways.
* The Kansas Corporation Commission rejected a request by Westar Energy Inc. to recover from ratepayers costs tied to its acquisition of an 8% interest in the 2,181-MW Jeffrey Energy Center, saying the utility failed to show that its new lease and purchase agreement was "a prudent decision" for its retail customers.
* Though the Kentucky native leading the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission acknowledged his personal ties to coal country while speaking before industry representatives, he offered few ways for the agency to assist coal-fired utilities any time soon.
* Montana's Carbon County officials recently approved PacifiCorp's plan to build the Pryor Mountain wind project, The Billings Gazette reported. The 114-turbine project is estimated to cost about $406 million. The facility is scheduled to enter operation in December 2020.
* SSE PLC, one of Britain's largest utilities, has agreed to sell its energy supply business to upstart challenger Ovo Group Ltd. in a deal worth £500 million, completing a drawn-out retreat from the country's cut-throat retail market.
* A new report by Synapse Energy Economics concludes that Santee Cooper could save ratepayers money by shifting its focus away from fossil fuel generation to renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs.
Natural gas
* Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau officially kicked off a 40-day campaign that will see energy and climate issues play a key role in determining who will form the nation's next government.
* The Trump administration has announced its final plan to open part of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and natural gas leasing and exploration. The administration released its findings that energy development in the area would have a negligible environmental impact.
Separately, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would block oil and natural gas leasing and production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
* Some of the country's top oil and gas producers are adjusting their expectations and strategies amid a prevailing slump in natural gas liquids prices as they look forward to improvements in market conditions in the next few quarters.
* Sempra Energy-operated Cameron LNG export terminal facility in Louisiana declared force majeure due to technical problems Reuters reported, citing LNG traders.
* Conservation groups sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for allegedly failing to consider the climate pollution from 130 oil and gas leases spanning 175,500 acres of public lands in Utah.
Oil
* The International Energy Agency held its global oil demand outlook unchanged for 2019 and 2020, anticipating a calming in the economic climate and trade disputes that trimmed demand in the first half.
* California's Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources is pressing Chevron Corp. to furnish more information about eight oil spills near its Cymric oil field in Kern County, the AP reported.
* OPEC and its allies would decide in December whether to pursue additional production cuts amid supply glut and weak demand growth for crude, The Wall Street Journal reported.
* Houston-based Alta Mesa Resources Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and revamped its leadership team, the company announced.
* The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas issued an order confirming Weatherford International PLC and its subsidiaries' second amended joint prepackaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. The company expects that the effective date of the plan will occur before year-end.
Coal
* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved revisions to an Arkansas regional haze plan that aligns with a pending court settlement over the fate of two Entergy Arkansas LLC coal plants headed for retirement.
* Total U.S. coal production for the week ended Sept. 7 decreased 5.7% year over year to 13.3 million tons from 14.1 million tons, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
ChartWatch

About 1,300 MW of wind power capacity came online between April and June in the strongest second quarter for wind energy projects since 2015, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.
New from RRA
* Settlement discussions are expected to commence Sept. 24, in pending base rate proceedings for Brooklyn Union Gas Co. and KeySpan Gas East Corp. before the New York Public Service Commission.
* Capital structure, return on equity and depreciation emerged as the major areas of contention in testimony filed on Sept. 10, in electric and gas rate cases for Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. that are pending before the Maryland Public Service Commission.
The day ahead
* The Baker-Hughes rig count report is due out today.
* Early morning futures indicators pointed to a higher opening for the U.S. equity markets. To view more SNL equity market indexes, click here. To view more SNL Energy commodities prices, click here.

Click here to read about today's financial markets, setting out the factors driving stocks, bonds and currencies around the world ahead of the New York open.
The Daily Dose has an editorial deadline of 7:30 a.m. ET. Some external links may require a subscription. Links are current as of publication time, and we are not responsible if those links are unavailable later.
