While speaking about the ongoing energy crisis in California on Friday at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco, Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was hit in the face with a pie from a protester who was then quickly removed from the building. Skilling reportedly unphased, wiped the pie from his face and commented “People in California are angry, and they should be.” He then continued on with his speech, blaming California’s regulators for the energy crisis in the state. Enron, along with numerous other energy companies have come under the spotlight after recent accusations made by Gov. Gray Davis and state officials implied that the companies forced electricity prices higher by holding back supply.

GPU Inc. said on Friday that based upon the status of the recent settlement discussions in New Jersey concerning its proposed merger with FirstEnergy Corp., the administrative law judge hearing the case has asked the parties to continue discussions until July 9. The company pointed out that the continuation of discussions will postpone the judge’s recommended decision that was scheduled to be rendered June 29. The talks were started after staff at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities urged state regulators to reject the pending merger on the grounds that the two companies have failed to back up claims that the merger will not harm ratepayers in the Garden State, among other things (see Daily GPI, June 5).

PECO Energy said that customers are expected to push its summer peak for electricity demand to 7,750 MW, a figure that is nearly 6% higher than last year, but short of the company’s all-time high set two years ago. Summer electricity demand from PECO customers peaked at a record of 7,959 MW on July 6, 1999. Summer weather last year was milder without the prolonged stretches of extreme hot weather that tends to push electric consumption from cooling appliances to peaks. PECO noted that homes and business consumer the most electricity of the year thus far on June 20, with a peak demand of 6,725 MW. The company said that its summer readiness program includes arrangements with its sister company, Exelon Generation, for firm, full energy requirements. Also, PECO will spend about $50 million allocated this year for targeted local circuit upgrades, capacity expansion projects and system reinforcements.

ISO New England commended Connecticut Gov. John Rowland for vetoing legislation that the ISO said would have compromised the reliability of the region’s power system. The vetoed legislation would have required six fossil fueled-plants to upgrade their facilities to meet current federal emissions standards by the end of 2004. “We appreciate the good intentions behind the legislation, but the new emission standards were unrealistic and unworkable, and would have left Connecticut with inadequate energy resources,” said Gordon Van Welie, ISO New England’s CEO. The ISO said it would continue to work with state lawmakers to develop new legislation that fully considers both environmental and reliability concerns.

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