Adopts

Texas has become the second state in the country to enact an integrity management plan for its pipelines, after the Texas Railroad Commission unanimously adopted rules this week that strengthen the safety program. So far, California is the only other state to adopt a pipeline integrity management program.

Despite trouble in the retail market in several states thisyear, gas customer choice appears to be making a little progress.The Michigan Public Service Commission has adopted terms andconditions to make gas choice programs for residential andcommercial customers a permanent fixture in the state.

Gas customer choice appears to be taking hold in yet anotherstate, as the Michigan Public Service Commission last week adoptedterms and conditions to make gas choice programs for residentialand commercial customers a permanent fixture in the state.

California regulators last Thursday approved a series of rateadjustments for Southern California Gas and San Diego Gas andElectric that are designed to encourage future merchant natural gaspipeline and electric power plant projects, as well as result in a$248 million gas utility net rate decrease.

The Delaware General Assembly passed legislation last week thatwill bring retail choice to the majority of the state’s electricitycustomers by October 2000 and to all of its power customers byApril 2001. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Gov.Thomas R. Carper next week.

The Delaware General Assembly passed legislation last week thatwill bring retail choice to the majority of the state’s electricitycustomers by October 2000 and to all of its power customers byApril 2001. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Gov.Thomas R. Carper next week.

The New York State Public Service Commission adopted a set ofbusiness practices yesterday that are designed to streamline themanner in which local utilities interact with gas and electricitymarketers, energy services companies (ESCOs) and customers whopurchase energy in New York’s competitive market. The measurescover a wide range of issues, including minimum standards ofESCO/marketer creditworthiness, customer information exchangedbetween the utility and the supplier, billing procedures, switchingof customers, customer slamming protections, and dispute resolutionprocedures.