Approved

Members of the National Petroleum Council (NPC) overwhelminglyapproved a report yesterday by its natural gas committeeforecasting a 32% increase in gas demand over the next decade.Titled “Meeting the Challenges of the Nation’s Growing Natural GasDemand,” the study will be used as a platform for member companiesto lobby for increased access to protected producing areas, morecomprehensive research and development projects and increasedfunding.

Although the Federal Trade Commission approved the sale of itscustomers to Shell Energy Services last week, Peachtree Natural Gasis not clear of problems yet, as the Georgia Public ServiceCommission (GPSC) is investigating slamming charges against theembattled marketer. GPSC Commissioner Bobby Baker said yesterday aslamming investigation is currently under way and that anywherefrom several hundred to several thousand gas customers could beaffected. There is no timeframe for the conclusion of theinvestigation.

For the second time this fall, Canada’s National Energy Boardserved notice it will not halt gas pipeline projects to awaitresolutions of age-old Indian grievances but it did issue a pleafor both sides in a dispute to make peace for the good of allconcerned. The signal arrived in an approval of a second Maritimesspur, called the Saint John Lateral, off the new Maritimes &Northeast pipeline. The $62 million lateral is designed to servedomestic customers in New Brunswick along its route to New Englandfrom the Sable Offshore Energy Project.

Forcenergy Inc. of Miami said its bankruptcy reorganization planwas approved Oct. 22 by the United States Bankruptcy Court for theEastern District of Louisiana. A confirmation hearing is scheduledfor Dec. 13. On Nov. 16 the bankruptcy court extended the timeperiod for which only the company has the exclusive right to file aplan of reorganization. No other plan has been submitted or can besubmitted during the company’s exclusivity period.

Independent producer Forcenergy Inc. of Miami said itsbankruptcy reorganization plan was approved Oct. 22 by the UnitedStates Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Aconfirmation hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13. On Nov. 16 thebankruptcy court extended the time period for which only thecompany has the exclusive right to file a plan of reorganization.No other plan has been submitted or can be submitted during thecompany’s exclusivity period.

The $6.4 billion merger of Dominion Resources and ConsolidatedNatural Gas (CNG) picked up approvals from the Federal TradeCommission (FTC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC) last week, but both agencies included conditions to protectcustomers in Virginia.

FERC last week approved the proposed merger of Illinova Corp.and Dynegy Inc., saying the $2 billion deal posed no competitiveconcerns. It noted “there is insufficient ‘overlap’ betweenrelevant upstream delivered gas and downstream electricitymarkets…to raise significant competitive concerns.” Also, thetransaction “does not enhance the merged company’s incentive toraise its rivals’ costs because it has a relatively small share ofthe relevant downstream electricity markets.”

FERC yesterday approved the mergers of Illinova Corp. and DynegyInc. and Dominion Resources Inc. and Consolidated Natural Gas(CNG). But it placed conditions on its blessing of the lattermerger transaction, citing competitive concerns.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) unanimouslyapproved an accounting order earlier this week, which outlined theprocedure by which AGL Resources could file for stranded costrecovery. The parent of the deregulating Atlanta Gas Light willcompletely exit the merchant function next month.