Blasts

California’s chief energy regulator Monday blasted the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its decision last week to uphold El Paso Natural Gas Co.’s contract with an a affiliate for 1.22 Bcf/d of interstate pipeline capacity to the California border. Further, she speculated the investigation FERC did order, regarding allegations of market manipulation, was offered insincerely on a timetable that makes it moot.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was irresponsible in deregulating the wholesale power markets in California and elsewhere when it did because it ignored warnings of the existence of market power and capacity constraints in those markets, according to an analysis conducted by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA).

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was irresponsible inderegulating the wholesale power markets in California andelsewhere when it did because it ignored warnings of the existenceof market power and capacity constraints in those markets,according to an analysis conducted by the Consumer Federation ofAmerica (CFA).

John M. Quain, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), blasted GPU Energy earlier this month for “deliberately alarming consumers and elected officials” by suggesting a crisis like the one in California could occur in Pennsylvania.

John M. Quain, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public UtilityCommission (PUC), blasted GPU Energy on Friday for “deliberatelyalarming consumers and elected officials” by suggesting a crisislike the one in California could occur in Pennsylvania.

Calling the blasts on the El Paso Natural Gas and Olympic PipeLine systems the “most visible indications of a serious, long-termproblem,” Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN) introduced pipeline safetylegislation this week in the House that he says takes a tougherstance against natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines than theSenate measure passed last month.

Blasting two U.S. senators’ plan to set up an energy commissionto investigate recent high natural gas and oil prices, North DakotaGov. Ed Schafer said last week the proposal would result in nothingbut finger pointing, and he asserted that there is no “quick fix”to the nation’s energy problems.

Blasting two U.S. senators’ plans to set up an energy commissionto investigate recent high natural gas and oil prices, North DakotaGov. Ed Schafer said last week the proposal would result in nothingbut finger pointing, and he asserted that there is no “quick fix”to the nation’s energy problems.

Although its requests were partially met last week by theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission, the New York IndependentSystem Operator got an earful from FERC Commissioners, including anultimatum to get its systems in proper working order or have itsauthority taken away.