Asks

A small Virginia-based natural gas producer has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reassert jurisdiction over a network of gathering facilities in the Appalachian region, claiming Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. and its gathering affiliate, Columbia Natural Resources Inc. (CNR), are acting “in concert” to manipulate gathering rates and thwart competitive transportation service.

A small Virginia-based natural gas producer has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reassert jurisdiction over a network of gathering facilities in the Appalachian region, claiming Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. and its gathering affiliate, Columbia Natural Resources Inc. (CNR), are acting “in concert” to manipulate gathering rates and thwart competitive transportation service.

Iroquois Pipeline, having reached a critical point in development of its Eastern Long Island (ELI) expansion project, has asked FERC to defer further action on its application until at least January when Iroquois will provide a status update.

Iroquois Pipeline, having reached a critical point in development of its Eastern Long Island (ELI) expansion project, has asked FERC to defer further action on its application until at least January when Iroquois will provide a status update.

Banking on wholesale natural gas prices to be lower in the upcoming winter heating season, Avista Corp.’s utilities last week asked Idaho regulators to decrease natural gas rates for its 59,000 customers in the state by an average of 15.5%, effective Nov. 1. It would be the first decrease for Avista gas utility customers in the state since 1997, following six rate increases that collectively more than doubled the average bill for residential customers over the period.

Plant management and personnel were at fault in failing to discover, until it was almost too late, a leak and significant corrosion in a reactor vessel head at the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant, at Oak Harbor, OH, according to a report submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by plant owner FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. (FENOC) last Thursday.

In the midst of less cheerful news this month, Spokane, WA-based Avista Corp. Thursday asked the Oregon Public Utilities Commission for a 7.1% decrease in its natural gas rates for the 80,000 customers it serves in that state. It is the second gas decrease this year, reflecting the downturn overall in wholesale natural gas prices.

Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline LP, operator of a major intrastate system located in the Texas Gulf Coast, has filed an amendment to an application to construct a border-crossing pipeline to serve the expanding natural gas demand in northern Mexico.

Echoing what state politicians and regulators have been saying for a long time, California’s attorney general Monday asked for a rehearing of a May 31 order by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the state AG’s earlier complaint against seven marketers selling wholesale power supplies in the state.