The House does have rooms of opportunity. Sound crass? It is.

Shares of oilfield services companies and refinery operators rose for the third straight day on Wednesday in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, as analysts said there was much work to do in coming weeks and months to restore the industry in the Gulf of Mexico.

The price of oil eased quickly after the Bush administration said it would release supplies from strategic reserves, but it bounced back just as quickly as analysts said the problem was not a lack of oil but a lack of refinery capacity to turn crude into needed products.

OMG

Platforms aside, eight refineries were shut down due to the storm, half gas producers.

Down here in south Florida, FPL has asked consumers for our help in conserving energy.

Just as repair crews finish up restoration efforts in South Florida, the state’s electric companies announced they were concerned about fuel supplies and asked customers to cut back on usage.

The reason: Katrina’s furious sweep through the Gulf of Mexico temporarily knocked out at least 90 percent of the Gulf’s production of natural gas.

Almost 40 percent of Florida Power & Light’s energy comes from natural gas. At present it has enough supplies to meet its fuel needs, the company said in a press release, but “as a precautionary effort we are asking our customers to take voluntary efforts now.”

FPL must be fuming, after making a deal with the State Attorney’s office for a 4 year rate freeze.

TALLAHASSEE — State regulators Wednesday approved an agreement between Florida Power & Light Co. and consumer advocates that would keep the utility’s basic electricity rates the same through the end of 2009 — unless a new power plant starts up during that time or the company’s profits fall below a certain level.