In July 2007, an accusation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that it engaged in price gouging sent Energy Transfer Partners’ (NYSE: ETP) unit price plunging. Last month, the limited partnership finally got satisfaction, as FERC officially dropped the case with no penalty. Read More

Even after the catastrophic plunge in energy prices and producer stocks since summer 2008, despite almost universally gloomy forecasts for global economic growth and in spite of an apparent supply glut heading into “shoulder season,” I’m still long-term bullish on energy. Read More

Bear market rally or the real thing? That seems to be the question on the mind of every investor I’ve talked to recently.There are plenty of arguments to be made on both sides. Stocks of companies that are resisting this recession and paying big dividends are selling at valuations typically seen at bear market bottoms. Sentiment has improved over the past week but is still the gloomiest on record, again a classic bottom sign. Read More

In the end, the best chance of passing CO2 regulation in this Congress rests with the Illinois “mafia,” the home staters favorite son Obama brought with him to the White House. The most powerful of these--Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel--has already succeeded once in advancing coal interests, inserting record funding for clean coal technology development in the stimulus package. Read More

Market history shows that such emotional lows and rock-bottom valuations for quality companies also resolve in surging prices. And that’s a pretty key fact to keep in mind when the market action gets as wild and wooly as it has over the past couple of weeks. Read More

Thanks to six years-plus of slashing operating risk and debt, utilities have been an island of strength in these troubled times, which have shaken icons in other industries to their cores. But even essential service companies have suffered some casualties in this bear market. Read More

Investors are now focused on the potential perils of 2009. Happily, the best clues to how companies will fare are in the fourth quarter numbers--not the headline figures like earnings, but the “inside” numbers that reveal the strength of balance sheets and key operations. Read More

Customer complaints against regulated utilities are on the rise across the nation. That’s typical for recessions, but it could spell trouble for some utilities looking for rate increases, particularly if they really need the capital. Read More

Two electric utilities on the Watch List cut distributions last month: Ameren (NYSE: AEE), by 39 percent to 38.5 cents a share, and Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP), by 50 percent to 20.75 cents. Read More

Gaming, mining and climate are three big reasons Nevada continues to grow. That’s increasingly benefitting the state’s regulated power utility NV Energy (NYSE: NVE), formerly Sierra Pacific Resources. Read More