Projecting that linepack would slip below its minimum targetlevel through Thursday, Pacific Gas & Electric issued asystemwide Stage 3 OFO, effective today until further notice. Theorder carries penalties of $5/Dth for negative daily imbalancesexceeding a 3% tolerance.

As a result of warmer area weather and banking on its system,Northwest said it is operationally feasible to loosen conditions ofits entitlement for delivery points north of Kemmerer (WY) Station.A Declared Stage II (8% tolerance) Overrun Entitlement will takeeffect today; through Tuesday the pipeline was in a Stage I (3%)Entitlement. A shipper is subject to penalties for overtakes northof Kemmerer that exceed an amount 8% greater than its confirmednominations.

El Paso will take the B turbine at Cornudas Station in WestTexas down for maintenance today and Thursday, reducing SouthMainline capacity there by 60 MMcf/d. However, Cornudas capacityhas not been fully utilized recently, the pipeline said, so thisreduction should not affect current markets.

The Kinder Morgan pipeline group (NGPL, Kinder MorganInterstate, Trailblazer, Canyon Creek, KN Wattenburg andTransColorado) reminded shippers it has a new 24-hour hotline phonenumber for information and questions about point confirmations andrelated issues: (713) 369-9683. The old hotline will stay inservice through Dec. 31, but callers will hear a recording givingthe new number. The current number for nomination-related issues,(713) 369-9670, is not changing, Kinder Morgan said.

Westcoast is taking bids through noon MST today on severalpackages of Short Term Firm Service capacity with varying paths.The service will commence Dec. 1. Minimum contract terms are onemonth, but bidders may seek to extend the length through Oct.31,2001. See the Westcoast bulletin board or call Judi King at(403) 299-7703 for details.

Columbia Gulf is holding an auction through 9 a.m. CST Thursdayon 25,000 Dth/d of FTS-2 capacity that will become available April1, 2001 on the pipeline’s offshore South Pass System. Such capacityholders may nominate from any SPS receipt point back to its coresystem at Egan, LA, for Columbia Gulf’s maximum offshore rate. Thereceipt points include an interconnect with the Viosca Knoll Systemat South Pass 55. There are no limits on contract length. CallSteve Wendel at (713) 267-4769 for more information.

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