Attack

Responding to FERC’s threat to revoke the energy marketing privileges of wrongdoers, Reliant Energy Services acknowledged the actions of its power trader were “plainly wrong,” but it asked the agency for leniency in light of the trading reforms enacted at the company. BP Energy Co. apologized for the misconduct of one of its traders and asked for mercy as well. A group of Enron Corp. power and gas marketers, however, challenged the Commission’s action, claiming it was based on faulty and “ambiguous” charges.

Responding to FERC’s threat to revoke the energy marketing privileges of wrongdoers, Reliant Energy Services last week acknowledged the actions of one of its power traders were “plainly wrong,” but it asked the agency for leniency in light of the trading reforms enacted at the company. BP Energy Co. apologized for the misconduct of one of its traders and asked for mercy as well. A group of Enron Corp. power and gas marketers, however, challenged the Commission’s action, claiming it was based on faulty and “ambiguous” charges.

Echoing the concerns cited by Duke Energy earlier, scores of West Coast energy suppliers disputed FERC staff’s view that the California market monitoring rules provide the legal backing for the Commission to issue show-cause orders against them and other sellers, threatening the loss of market-based rate authority and/or alleged ill-gotten profits.

Echoing the concerns cited by Duke Energy earlier, scores of West Coast energy suppliers dispute FERC staff’s view that the California market monitoring rules provide the legal backing for the Commission to issue show-cause orders against them and other sellers, threatening the loss of market-based rate authority and/or alleged ill-gotten profits.

In a blistering attack on another energy company last Wednesday, Apache Corp. Chairman Raymond Plank called The Williams Companies an “Enron Clone” that used monopoly power to manipulate Gulf Coast gathering rates levied on producers. Apache lambasted Williams for continuing to fight a judge’s ruling that its gathering spindown led to unjust transportation charges on Apache, Shell and other producers.

In a blistering attack on another energy company last Wednesday, Apache Corp. Chairman Raymond Plank called The Williams Companies an “Enron Clone” that used monopoly power to manipulate Gulf Coast gathering rates levied on producers. Apache lambasted Williams for continuing to fight a judge’s ruling that its gathering spindown led to unjust transportation charges on Apache, Shell and other producers.

In a blistering attack on another energy company on Wednesday, Apache Corp. Chairman Raymond Plank called The Williams Companies an “Enron Clone” that used monopoly power to manipulate Gulf Coast gathering rates levied on producers.

Due to the current interdependency of the U.S. economy, an attack at a key point along a pipeline could actually disrupt communications, information technology and power, as well as the petroleum and natural gas supplies that run through the pipes, according to Bobby R. Gillham, manager of global security for Conoco Inc. Environmental concerns over the past 20 years have forced interstate pipelines to not only carry natural gas and liquid petroleum products, but also fiber optic cable for communications, and power lines, which are run in the same rights of way, he said.

Due to the current interdependency of the U.S. economy, an attack at a key point along a pipeline could actually disrupt communications, information technology and power as well as the petroleum and natural gas supplies that run through the pipes, according to Bobby R. Gillham, manager of global security for Conoco Inc. Environmental concerns over the past 20 years have forced interstate pipelines to not only carry natural gas and liquid petroleum products, but also fiber optic cable for communications, and power lines are run in the same rights of way, he said.