Reuters: Utilities

UPDATE 2-US natgas futures climb 4 pct, hit 2-1/2-month high

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:55:04 -0400

* Front-month futures hit 2-1/2-mth high on light storage estimate * Production cuts, coal switching help tighten balance * Moderate weather this week seen slowing demand * Coming up: EIA, Enerdata natural gas storage data Thursday (Releads, adds quote, updates with closing prices) By Joe Silha NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures headed higher on Wednesday for a second day, as supportive supply and demand fundamentals and expectations for another light w

Nabucco group submits smaller project for Azeri gas

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:29:43 -0400

* Shah Deniz 2 gas consortium expected to pick winner in June

UPDATE 1-Syria raises price for scarce diesel

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:24:10 -0400

* Military use for tanks increased (Adds details and quotes from business leaders)

UPDATE 2-Merkel ditches environment minister after poll rout

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:06:12 -0400

* SPD says Merkel sacking minister to save self (Recasts with Merkel announcement, quotes and details)

Snam, Fluxys buy Interconnector stake for 127 mln euros

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:59:35 -0400

MILAN, May 16 (Reuters) - Italian gas transport group Snam and Belgium's gas company Fluxys said on Wednesday they had reached an agreement to buy the 15.09 percent stake of German utility E.ON in Interconnector (UK).

UPDATE 2-E.ON sells gas grid to Macquarie consortium for $4 bln

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:57:53 -0400

* Deal expected to close in Q3 (Adds Macquarie statement, analyst comment, further details, background)

Czech state attorney orders renewed CEZ contract probe

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:50:15 -0400

PRAGUE, May 16 (Reuters) - Czech anti-corruption police must reopen an investigation into contracts between electricity company CEZ and a major supplier, a state attorney's office in Prague said on Wednesday.

Italy wants CDP to take control of Snam - draft decree

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:36:55 -0400

MILAN, May 16 (Reuters) - The Italian government believes it is opportune that state-controlled financing group Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) buys a controlling stake in gas transport group Snam, according to a draft decree seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

TEXT-S&P to hold teleconference on natural gas prices on June 1

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:35:42 -0400

(The following statement was released by the rating agency) May 16 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services will hold a telephone conference call on Friday, June 1, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings Time to discuss the credit impact of low natural gas prices on other industries. The speakers for the conference call and their topic of discussion are listed below: -- Ben Tsocanos - How Low Can Natural Gas Prices Go? -- Maurice Austin - The Impact of Low Natural Gas P

UPDATE 1-Europe Power-Weak curve rebounds slightly

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:22:11 -0400

* 2013 delivery contract near 17 month lows * Weak economics rule * German, French spot at par, lower for May 18 (Updates prices, adds story links) LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) - Germany's Cal' 13 electricity contract rebounded from early morning losses on Wednesday afternoon but was still at its lowest in 17 months as bearish fuels prices and fears of Greece's exit from the euro zone weighed on the outlook for energy demand. The German baseload contract for 2013 delivery gained