Advocate

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Illinois’ consumer advocate, on Tuesday applauded a record refund package worth more than $196 million for Peoples Gas customers, which settled a long-standing challenge to the utility’s dealings with Enron Corp. in the winter of 2000-2001. CUB had been working with the state’s attorney general’s office and Chicago officials for the past four years to ensure a settlement.

Responding to a request from The Utility Reform Network (TURN), a utility consumer advocate, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) earlier this month kicked off an investigation of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s billing and collection practices that could ultimately result in refunds or fines for the utility. The five-member CPUC ordered the probe at its last business meeting.

Responding to a request from The Utility Reform Network (TURN), a utility consumer advocate, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) earlier this month kicked off an investigation of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s billing and collection practices that could ultimately result in refunds or fines for the utility. The five-member CPUC ordered the probe at its last business meeting.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood, a staunch advocate of liquefied natural gas (LNG), said last Wednesday he was not particularly worried that a few energy companies have been forced to withdraw their plans to build LNG import facilities due to intense local opposition in certain parts of the nation. In fact, he said he welcomed local input on projects, and advised sponsors to do their “homework” at the local level.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood, a staunch advocate of liquefied natural gas (LNG), said Wednesday he was not particularly concerned that a few energy companies have been forced to withdraw their plans to build LNG import facilities due to intense local opposition in certain parts of the nation. In fact, he said he welcomed local input on projects, and advised sponsors to do their “homework” at the local level.

Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK), a strong advocate of the oil and natural gas industry, announced last Tuesday that he will retire from the Senate after 24 years of service when his current term ends in late 2004.

Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK), a strong advocate of the oil and natural gas industry, announced Tuesday that he will retire from the Senate after 24 years of service when his current term ends in late 2004 .

House-Senate Republican negotiators advocate more deep-water natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, faster permitting for producers, an inventory of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas resources, enhanced development of gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and construction of an Alaska pipeline in their latest “discussion draft” of comprehensive energy legislation.

The California state legislature’s chief advocate for a return to tightly regulated energy utilities absent retail customer choice programs told a legislative committee session Wednesday that natural gas could prove the next serious energy problem for the nation’s most populous state — perhaps as early as this fall or the coming winter. Increasing reliance on gas derivatives is at the heart of the problem, according to the legislator.