Attacks

The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) still intends topress FERC for a finding of affiliate abuse and tariff violationsin the El Paso Natural Gas pipeline case, said CPUC Attorney HarveyMorris (see Daily GPI, Feb. 28), despite El Paso Merchant Energy’sdecision to turn back on May 31 most of the 1.2 Bcf/d of firm spaceit has held on its affiliated pipeline system.

Working to find ways to ease the burden of high gas prices on its constituents, the Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) unanimously approved an additional $50 refund for low-income senior citizens on their bills for March. Low-income seniors are already receiving $10 refunds on their January, February and March bills, while all consumers are receiving $14 refunds on their February and March bills.

Working to find ways to ease the burden on its constituents, theGeorgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) unanimously approved anadditional $50 refund for low-income senior citizens on theirnatural gas bills for March. Low-income seniors are alreadyreceiving $10 refunds on their January, February and March bills,while all consumers are receiving $14 refunds on their February andMarch bills.

The beleaguered California independent electricity grid operatorlashed out at a recent state report to the governor on thecontinuing electricity crisis in its own submittal to the state’schief executive on Tuesday.

Viking Voyageur Gas Transmission called on FERC to dismiss ANRPipeline’s latest attacks on its project, saying they were”thinly-veiled” efforts to prevent, or “at least delay for as longas possible,” construction of a pipeline project that would bringsorely-needed competition into ANR’s Wisconsin market area.Voyageur, which would import Canadian gas into several Midwestmarkets, “is a significant threat to ANR’s market dominance inWisconsin. As a result, ANR has made every possible effort tothwart the Commission’s pro-competitive policies by delayingVoyageur’s project,” the proposed pipeline said in comments at theCommission [CP98-65].