Allowed

Utility.com is gearing up for Sept. 1, when New Jersey consumers will be allowed to select their electricity suppliers through the Internet. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) earlier granted Utility.com an Electric Power Supplier License to sell into the New Jersey market of 3.5 million electricity customers, and the company will use an Internet Enrollment Program.

Reporting that linepack was heavy on its south end, Northwestsaid Monday no on-system balancing and limited off-system balancingis being allowed in that segment.

Although a recent rate case settlement allowed PG&E to raiseits distribution rates, the hike will not translate into higherbills for customers. The utility said its revised gas tarifffiling, which the California Public Utilities Commission yesterday,will actually reduce overall residential gas rates by 3.1%.

More favorable operating conditions allowed Texas Eastern to cancelMonday the OFO for its M-3 market zone that began a week earlier (seeDaily GPI, Jan. 19). All M-3 OperationalBalancing Agreements that were suspended are back in effect, Tetcosaid, and storage nominations may be restored to pre-OFOlevels. However, a restriction on IT gas sourced upstream of M-3 anddelivered there is still in effect. Due-shipper imbalance gas may betaken in all zones again, Tetco said, as long as it is scheduledproperly and taken evenly through the rest of January. Downstreamaffiliate Algonquin similarly canceled Monday the Critical SystemWarning it had posted Jan. 17 (see Daily GPI, Jan. 19), but left in place restrictions onmainline forward hauls for Authorized Overrun gas, interruptibleservices and due-shipper makeup gas.

Northwest Natural Gas Co. reported that the Oregon PublicUtility Commission (OPUC), in an order issued Nov. 12, authorized anet revenue increase from NW Natural’s Oregon operations of $0.2million/year. The revenue increase will come from rate increasesaveraging about 1.3% for Oregon residential customers, partiallyoffset by rate decreases for certain commercial and largeindustrial customers.

Staff of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recommendCMP Natural Gas (CMPNG) be allowed to serve “un-served” areas ofGorham and Westbrook, ME, as well as serve Calpine’s proposed540-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Westbrook. Last July, CMPNGand Calpine signed a long-term contract to provide gas deliveryservice contingent upon PUC approval. Construction of Calpine’s$200 million electric generating facility is under way and willrequire gas service by June 1.

Interstate pipelines should be allowed to build as much newcapacity as they want into the burgeoning Northeast gas marketproviding they are put at risk for underrecovery of rates on theprojects, pipeline customers told FERC last week. But absent suchan at-risk approach, they urged the Commission to exerciserestraint when assessing Northeast-bound pipe projects becausewhile they concede additional capacity will be needed in thefuture, they are more guarded than pipelines about the extent ofthe need.

Virginia’s State Corporation Commission (SCC) said it plans to use the full 180 days allowed by Virginia law before ruling on Dominion Resources’ merger with CNG. The announcement was made just two weeks after CNG cited fewer potential regulatory problems as a main reason for selecting the Dominion bid over a hostile offer from Columbia Energy Group (See NGI, May 17). If the SCC takes the full 180 days, a decision would not be reached until Nov. 17.

Virginia’s State Corporation Commission (SCC) said it plans touse the full 180 days allowed by Virginia law before ruling onDominion Resources’ merger with CNG. The announcement was made justtwo weeks after CNG cited fewer potential regulatory problems as amain reason for selecting the Dominion bid over a hostile offerfrom Columbia Energy Group (See Daily GPI, May 13). If the SCCtakes the full 180 days, a decision would not be reached until Nov.17.