Allowing

FERC last week issued an order allowing the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to eliminate on an expedited basis the requirement that bids be limited to $0/MWh if submitted into the CAISO real-time energy market by generation facilities that are located beyond the grid operator’s control area.

Pacific Gas & Electric declared a systemwide Stage 2 high-inventory OFO for Thursday. The utility is allowing zero tolerance for positive imbalances and assessing penalties of $1/Dth for infractions.

A U.S. House subcommittee last week voted down a proposal that would have allowed states to opt out of FERC’s pending standard market design (SMD) for U.S. wholesale power markets.

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) plans to investigate possibly reining in gas price volatility by allowing retail customers to sign fixed-price bills. The PSC will hold a roundtable discussion on the issue on Jan. 24.

A federal court in Washington, DC, has blocked the Interior Department from allowing energy exploration on thousands of acres of public lands on the eastern boundary of Utah’s Arches National Park.

A federal court in Washington, DC has blocked the Interior Department from allowing energy exploration on thousands of acres of public lands on the eastern boundary of Utah’s Arches National Park.

Pacific Gas & Electric is allowing zero tolerance for positive imbalances in a systemwide Stage 2 high-inventory OFO declared for Thursday. Penalties are $1/Dth.

Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) said its customer choice program has been expanded, allowing another 100 commercial and industrial customers to choose from alternative suppliers. Under the Natural Gas Choice Act of 1999, all of PGW’s 520,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers will be able to choose their natural gas supplier in September 2003.

Construction of Williams’ Canyon Station — a fixed-leg platform in 300 feet of water in East Main Pass Block 261 — has been completed and is ready to receive up to 500 MMcf/d from 10 subsea wells 55 miles out in the deepwater Camden Hills, Kings Peak and Aconcagua fields. The Gulf of Mexico platform was completed on a fast, 18-month track. Deliveries are expected to begin in late September when feeder lines are connected, reaching 300 MMcf/d by the end of October and full capacity by the end of the year.