Energy industry regains steam.(Natural gas)(Brief Article)

Natural gas prices turn hotter in wake of cold winter weather

Natural gas prices have. soared above $9 per thousand cubic feet, a stratospheric level never approached until recently. So at $9 earlier this week, exactly how high is natural gas?

"That's like $54 a barrel for oil," says Bill Marko, a vice president at Madison Energy Advisors in Houston.

Of course, oil is about half that seemingly preposterous level - yet at $29 a barrel recently, the price of crude is still considered lofty.

But the real story this winter is natural gas. Reversing course from three of the warmest winters on record, cold post-Thanksgiving weather has lit a fire …