Away

A western senator yesterday urged Capitol Hill lawmakers not to spend too much time on the issue of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge because, he cautions, it’s not going to get through Congress.

With summer 2001 only a week away, all eyes are turning toward California to see how the embattled state handles itself through the three-month period when air conditioning usage reaches its peak and MW supply becomes scarce. With the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) already on record expecting rotating power outages during peak afternoon demand hours in the state, the key issue is how will the outages impact petroleum product and natural gas supply in the state.

With summer and the expectation of hotter weather only days away, California regulators last week took several tiny steps aimed at squeezing more megawatts into the supply mix this summer and shoring up financially troubled Southern California Edison Co., the utility hovering on the edge of bankruptcy despite all the good news being spread around by state officials this week.

With summer 2001 only a week away, all eyes are turning toward California to see how the embattled state handles itself through the three-month period when air conditioning usage reaches its peak and MW supply becomes scarce. With the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) already on record expecting rotating power outages during peak afternoon demand hours in the state, the a key issue is how will the outages impact petroleum product and natural gas supply in the state.

Energy officials last week urged Congress to clear away the regulatory, legislative, tax and rate-related hurdles that are holding up construction of much-needed new power transmission and natural gas transportation facilities to serve the nation’s expanding energy appetite.

Energy officials yesterday urged Congress to clear away the regulatory, legislative, tax and rate-related hurdles that are holding up construction of much-needed new power transmission and natural gas transportation facilities to serve the nation’s expanding energy appetite.

California’s governor met with President Clinton in the WhiteHouse Wednesday and came away with an extension of the federalenergy secretary’s emergency order for another week, assuring thestate it can count on extra electricity supplies when needed. Thestate’s independent grid operator indicated it has been receivingabout 300 MW of power under the emergency mandate over the past twoweeks.

The New York Independent System Operator (ISO) walked away fromFERC empty-handed last week, as the Commission cited itsdisappointment with the regional power group’s failure to reduceconcentration in the 10-minute non-spinning reserves market.

The New York Independent System Operator (ISO) walked away fromFERC empty handed yesterday, as the Commission cited itsdisappointment with the regional power group’s failure to reduceconcentration in the 10-minute non-spinning reserves market.