Energy stocks were lower Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index shedding 0.8% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) dropping 1.2%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was down 1.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index decreased 0.8%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was adding 0.3% to $68.29 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was up 0.2% at $72.15 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 0.3% to $3.99 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, National Grid (NGG) shares fell 1.6% after a fire at the North Hyde substation in West London damaged equipment, resulting in the loss of power supply in the area, including at Heathrow Airport.

Elliott Management, which holds nearly a 5% stake in BP (BP), has urged the energy firm to make more aggressive changes, including cost-cutting measures and a possible reshuffling of its leadership, Reuters reported. BP shares were down 0.6%.

Shell (SHEL) said its unit Shell Brazil Petroleo has joined a consortium holding stakes in the Gato do Mato deep-water project in the pre-salt area of the Santos Basin offshore of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro coast. Shell shares were falling 1.4%.