Ameliorate

While admitting its election came too late to ameliorate the Mackenzie Gas Project’s (MGP) regulatory ordeal, Canada’s nine-month-old Conservative government is vowing to make life easier for developments the northern pipeline is expected to inaugurate.

To “ameliorate” the effects of natural gas price volatility thiswinter, FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker yesterday called on LDCs toaccent hedging techniques and long-term contracts, state regulatorsto make greater use of rate design and stabilization tools andclosely oversee LDC purchasing practices, and both federal andstate governments to support energy assistance and weatherizationprograms to aid low-income customers.