Today’s regular FERC meeting, the first one over which Chairman Pat Wood III will preside, promises to be a very long and interesting one. In addition to the regular consent agenda items, the Commission has listed a number of administrative issues that will be discussed, including the adequacy of the energy infrastructure, an update on the pipeline capacity situation to and within California, “strategic and 2002 business plans,” as well as other items. (AD01-2, AD01-3, AD01-1).

FERC’s long-awaited action Wednesday on its affiliate rule is likely to be the focus of considerable attention (RM01-10). The Commission is expected to plug up the loopholes surrounding the flow of non-public information between regulated energy companies and their unregulated affiliates.

On the electric side, the Commission also has docketed discussions addressing “significant national transmission constraints,” and the progress of regional transmission organizations (EX01-2, EX01-3)). For natural gas, FERC has scheduled discussions of gas pipeline operational flow orders, and the “efficient and effective collection of data” (GX01-1, GX01-2).

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