Energy stocks were edging up late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) increasing 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was rising 1.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was 0.2% higher.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.1% lower at $69.38 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was down 0.2% to $72.78 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.1% to $3.67 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, TPG's (TPG) climate investment arm is in talks to buy Altus Power (AMPS), Reuters reported. Altus shares jumped 12.5% and TPG was down 1.8%.

Lithium Americas (LAC) shares jumped past 6% after the firm said it closed its joint venture with General Motors (GM) to fund, develop and operate the Thacker Pass lithium project in Humboldt County, Nevada.

Vermilion Energy (VET) shares added 0.3% after the company said it has agreed to buy Westbrick Energy for about $1.08 billion.

Talen Energy (TLN) said Monday the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order deferring the company's request for a rehearing of its rejected agreement to increase power at its Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, nuclear plant to an Amazon.com (AMZN) data center. Talen shares rose 1.2%.