TransCanada profit drops 14% on low natural gas prices

As part of our series looking at the future of American energy, The Financialist spoke to Osmar Abib, global head of Credit Suisse’s oil and gas investment banking group, about the rise of natural gas production in the U.S., thanks in large part to the development of shale gas fields.    The shale drilling revolution that has allowed natural gas producers to access vast, previously unreachable resources has already had a profound impact on the U.S. energy sector, but what that means for the broader economy and global trade is a larger question.  

You may have to pay a little more for heating this winter, but you won’t be burning dollars. Canadian heating prices are expected to spike, although in many cases they will still be relatively low, industry reports suggest.

As cold weather moves in and grips the Northeast, natural gas investors are increasingly boosting exposure to producers benefiting from the winter season storage drawdown. Despite overall U.S. natural gas in storage remaining 1.7% above the 5-year average, national storage remains within the 5-year range, with east coast storage running 5.7% below normal and west coast storage in line at 0.3% above average.

CEO warns low natural gas prices will be challenging in short term

The conventional belief that oil consumption will continue to raise might be generally mistaken, considering the increasing usage of natural gas.   

By Todd Johnson:Investors should take advantage today of low natural gas prices and the fertilizer sector. Low natural gas prices are a catalyst for Rentech Nitrogren Partners (RNF).

Here's an update of a chart I've featured before comparing prices for oil and natural gas on an energy equivalent basis.  To compare oil and gas price

Charlotte Observer -- "Craig Schwartz's heating bill tells the story of a natural gas industry upheaval that's rippling through North Carolina.  First, take a look at Schwartz's natural gas bill for December: $73.69. Then look at December 2010, just a year before. The Raleigh computer scientist paid nearly twice as much: $134.14.