Actions

The four Northwest governors recently sent a joint letter to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) supporting BPA’s actions to avoid huge, wholesale rate increases and resulting damage to the Northwest region’s economy.

House Democrats made clear yesterday that they favor some of the same actions as the Republicans to resolve the current energy crisis — improving the energy transmission/transportation infrastructure, increased drilling on public lands, expedited permitting for pipelines and production tax credits — but they insist these can be accomplished without compromising the environment.

In separate actions last Wednesday, California’s governor and state officials gave a thumbs-up to two new power projects by San Jose, CA-based Calpine Corp. as the hyperactive merchant generator announced it assumed the development rights for another new plant in the state of Washington where construction will start almost immediately.

In separate actions Wednesday, California’s governor and state officials gave a thumbs-up to two new power projects by San Jose, CA-based Calpine Corp. as the hyperactive merchant generator announced it assumed the development rights for another new plant in the state of Washington where construction will start almost immediately.

Neutered earlier this year by federal and state actions, theCalifornia Power Exchange (Cal-PX) late Friday filed for Chapter 11protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, California CentralDistrict. The action came as another of the wounded in theCalifornia power crisis, Southern California Edison, told itsbondholders furtherÿrate increases for consumers are likely basedon the latest move last Wednesday by state regulators to assurethat all of the state water resource department’s (DWR’s) wholesalepower costs will be covered by utility rates,

Tucson Electric Power Co. contends that California Gov. GrayDavis’ decision to “commandeer” block forward contracts betweenbuyers and sellers in the Power Exchange and transfer them to thestate violated FERC jurisdiction, was illegal and showed littleconcern for the market.

California regulators postponed a growing backlog of pendingactions in deference to ongoing legislative efforts to develop acomprehensive solution to the state’s energy woes. Regulators lastweek put off action on an allocation of utility revenues to thestate water resources department, which is buying electricity forconsumers and attempting to sign long-term power contracts.

California regulators postponed a growing backlog of pendingactions in deference to ongoing legislative efforts to develop acomprehensive solution to the state’s energy woes. Regulatorsyesterday put off action on an allocation of utility revenues tothe state water resources department, which is buying electricityfor consumers and attempting to sign long-term power contracts.

Hoping to reverse the momentum of adverse court and regulatoryactions that have pushed it to the brink of bankruptcy, SouthernCalifornia Edison Monday won a U.S. District Court lawsuit againststate regulators, upholding the utility’s right to recoverreasonable costs for purchasing power.