Approval

Exxon Mobil satisfied another condition required by the FederalTrade Commission in its approval of the merger of the two companiesby selling Mobil Alaska Pipeline’s 3% interest in the Trans AlaskaPipeline System to a unit of The Williams Companies, Inc. Terms ofthe sale were not disclosed. ExxonMobil Pipeline will retain its20% interest in the 800-mile pipeline system, which transports onemillion barrels per day of crude oil from Prudhoe Bay on thestate’s North Slope to the Port of Valdez in the south. The stakeadds to Williams’ presence in Alaska, which currently includes apetroleum refinery in North Pole that receives crude oil from theTrans Alaska Pipeline System, a distribution terminal at the Portof Anchorage, 28 retail petroleum convenience stores and aninterest in an air cargo transfer facility at AnchorageInternational Airport.

FERC approval of a settlement ending a two-year complex contractdispute between Phelps Dodge Corp. and El Paso Natural Gas is themost “recent success story” of the use of alternative disputeresolution (ADR) methods at the Commission.

FERC approval of a settlement ending a two-year complex contractdispute between Phelps Dodge Corp. and El Paso Natural Gas is themost “recent success story” of the use of alternative disputeresolution (ADR) methods at the Commission.

Sempra Energy of San Diego, CA, will be the only game in town for gas distribution in Nova Scotia for at least 25 years now that it has the provincial government’s permission to build and operate the largest new North American gas distribution system of the last 30 years.

Sempra Energy of San Diego, CA, will be the only game in townfor gas distribution in Nova Scotia for at least 25 now that it hasthe provincial government’s permission to build and operate thelargest new North American gas distribution system of the last 30years.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved Columbia Gasof Pennsylvania’s restructuring settlement, making the company thefirst to gain commission approval under the guidelines set forththis summer in the Natural Gas Choice and Competition Act. Thesettlement, which included 26 parties, allows Columbia to advanceits choice program, expand its customer assistance program (CAP)statewide, and provide telephonic and Internet enrollment.

Nicor Gas of Naperville, IL, received approval from the IllinoisCommerce Commission (ICC) for a performance-based rate (PBR) planfor gas costs. The company filed the original proposal with the ICCMarch 2, and, with some changes, the ICC approved the plan. NicorGas has 14 days to accept or reject the modified plan. During anine-month review process, testimony was presented by interestedparties including the ICC staff, the Citizens Utility Board and theCook County States Attorney’s office.

Nicor Gas of Naperville, IL, received approval from the IllinoisCommerce Commission (ICC) for a performance-based rate (PBR) planfor gas costs. The company filed the original proposal with the ICCMarch 2, and, with some changes, the ICC approved the plan. NicorGas has 14 days to accept or reject the modified plan. During anine-month review process, testimony was presented by interestedparties including the ICC staff, the Citizens Utility Board and theCook County States Attorney’s office.

Southern Union Co. received final approval from the FederalEnergy Regulatory Commission for its merger with PennsylvaniaEnterprises Inc. The FERC approved transfer of control of powermarketing licenses held by Pacific Enterprises. The merger,announced June7, is expected to close Thursday.