Iroquois Gas Transmission is the latest pipeline to ask FERC to delay its certificated expansion projects by more than a year because prospective shippers — mostly power companies — have decided to either terminate or defer their service requirements.

The Commission this week agreed to postpone the pipeline’s two compression expansions in Athens, NY, and Brookfield, CT. The so-called Athens project was to be completed later this year, but the agency extended the deadline to complete construction until December 2004. The Brookfield expansion, which was to be in service by April 2004, got an 18-month reprieve until November 2005.

The Athens expansion, which FERC approved a year ago, called for the addition of 10,000 horsepower of new compression to supply up to 70,000 Dth/d of gas to Athens Generating Co. LP for use in a new 1,080 MW gas-fired generation facility in Athens, NY. But the Athens plant reportedly faces an uncertain future now.

“There is uncertainty at this time regarding anticipated changes in the ownership of the Athens electric generation plant and the potential impact of such changes on the times of completion and operation of the plant,” Iroquois told FERC. Adding to the problem is the fact that Athens Generating is a subsidiary of PG&E National Energy Group, which is on the brink of bankruptcy.

The $24.6 million Brookfield project entails the construction of a new compressor station with a 10,000-hp compressor unit on the Iroquois mainline in Connecticut. It was expected to supply a total of up to 85,000 Dth/d of firm service to two shippers, Astoria Energy Co. LP and PPL EnergyPlus LLC.

But PPL EnergyPlus has terminated its precedent agreement with the pipeline, and Astoria Energy, the largest shipper on the project, has requested that its service be deferred until November 2005, Iroquois said.

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