Begin

FERC yesterday cleared the way for Transcontinental Gas PipeLine (Transco) to begin building two phases of its controversialMarketLink project that would expand its existing transportationsystem in western Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey, but itbarred the pipeline from proceeding with a third phase until it canback up that part of the project with executed contracts.

Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) will begin a month-long open season Dec. 12 for pipeline capacity associated with its 95-mile, 24-inch Patriot Extension of the East Tennessee Natural Gas system into portions of southwest Virginia and North Carolina.

New Jersey’s largest publicly owned utility has asked stateregulators to give it the green light to begin selling natural gasat market-based rates in 2003.

After the approval of the fifth and final utility’s electric choiceplan early last month, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)vowed that the next crucial step would be marketer certification. Thatstep was taken last week as FirstEnergy Services, a subsidiary ofFirstEnergy, became one of the first to gain certification to offercustomers electricity in Ohio (see Daily GPI, Oct. 2).

Exelon Corp., a big new kid on the electricity block, is expected to begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EXC.” The new company is the product of the $8 billion merger of Unicom Corp. and PECO Energy Co. which was completed on Friday, following approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Exelon Corp., a big new kid on the electricity block, isexpected to begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchangeunder the symbol “EXC.” The new company is the product of the $8billion merger of Unicom Corp. and PECO Energy Co. which wascompleted on Friday, following approval by the Securities andExchange Commission.

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) scored two wins last week asthe Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted to begin aninvestigation into Nicor Gas’ gas deregulation program andtemporarily blocked a proposed expansion of the program until thecompany can prove it benefits customers.

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) scored two wins yesterday asthe Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted to begin aninvestigation into Nicor Gas’ gas deregulation program andtemporarily block a proposed expansion of the program until thecompany can prove it benefits customers.

After months of speculation in the industry, Alliance Pipelineconfirmed yesterday full commercial service will be delayed nearlya month until Oct. 30. When construction of the system wasscheduled nearly three years ago, Oct. 2 was the target date forcommercial service.