2001

After being delayed a half-hour by chanting consumers opposingrate increases in a standing-room-only hearing room, the CaliforniaPublic Utilities Commission Tuesday raised electric rates on apermanent basis by up to 40%. The CPUC also took other actionsdirecting the two of the state’s major investor-owned utilities toresume paying small independent power producers known as”qualifying facilities” (QFs) and the state Department of WaterResources for wholesale spot supplies.

The Iowa Utilities Board has begun an emergency investigation tostudy the adequacy of payment options available to natural gascustomers following the record-high energy bills this winter. Theboard is holding a workshop today in Des Moines, and has invitedall regulated natural gas utilities serving the state toparticipate.

©Copyright, 2001 Intelligence Press. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may Not be republished Or redistributed, in wholeOr in part, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press .

©Copyright, 2001 Intelligence Press. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may Not be republished Or redistributed, in wholeOr in part, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press .

The California energy crisis attracted two emergency gaspipeline projects last week, one from Kern River Gas Transmissionand another from El Paso Natural Gas. Together the projects wouldadd 365 MMcf/d of firm transportation to the California market bylate summer.

FERC told six California power suppliers Friday that they mustjustify $55 million worth of wholesale electricity sold duringStage Three emergencies in the month of February or pay refunds.

In what was probably its most comprehensive decision onCalifornia since its famed Dec. 15 order, FERC last week announceda series of actions designed to boost energy supply, reduce demandand alleviate the delivery bottlenecks that continue to bedevil thewholesale electricity and natural gas markets in the state andoverall western region.

Driven by a vision of Nova Scotian production more doublingwithin four years, an ambitious junior Canadian natural-gas hunterhas set out to prove that offshore targets are no longer just theplayground of the industry majors.

FERC told six California power suppliers Friday that they mustjustify $55 million worth of wholesale electricity sold duringStage Three emergencies in the month of February or pay refunds.