Bringing

Bringing to a close a long consumer battle that spawned unrest and stirred state lawmakers, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) last Friday issued a final order for implementing a new state law that limits the amount of utility rates covering federal, state and local taxes to the actual amounts of taxes paid. The change will start with 2006 tax year payments, and a consumer activist group immediately criticized the PUC’s action as insufficient.

BP America projected Friday that it could add 2,000 employees to its Houston-based operations on the city’s west side energy corridor, bringing its total number of employees in Houston to 8,000 in a major expansion planned for the next four years. The recent acquisition of more than 50 acres of land adjacent to BP’s Westlake campus solidified a three-phased growth plan, the company said.

BP America projected Friday that it could add 2,000 employees to its Houston-based operations on the city’s west side energy corridor, bringing its total number of employees in Houston to 8,000 in a major expansion planned for the next four years. The recent acquisition of more than 50 acres of land adjacent to BP’s Westlake campus solidified a three-phased growth plan, the company said.

Bringing the consecutive down-day streak to seven, June natural gas futures on Friday reached a low of $6.490 before settling at $6.555, down a quarter on the day and $1.661 lower than the contract’s close the previous Friday. During the eventful week, May futures expired on Wednesday at $7.198.

The House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a measure that would provide additional aid to low-income energy consumers this year, bringing total congressional funding for the program to more than $3 billion in 2006.

The House last Thursday overwhelmingly approved a measure that would provide additional aid to low-income energy consumers this year, bringing total congressional funding for the program to more than $3 billion in 2006.

Bringing to a close charges against the utilities of Peoples Energy for its dealings with Enron that resulted in significant customer overcharges, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) on Monday approved an amended settlement agreement valued at $200+ million by a vote of 3-1. Among other things, Peoples Energy will refund $100 million to customers.

Bringing the globalization of the natural gas industry one step further, Shell on Friday reported that it has acquired Gazprom Marketing & Trading Ltd.’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to the United States.

Almost certainly in response to the imminence of Tropical Storm (potentially Hurricane) Katrina bringing cooling rains to the southern half of its Florida market area, Florida Gas Transmission ended Thursday an Overage Alert Day notice that had been initiated Aug. 10 and had tolerances for negative daily imbalances varying between 5% and 25% during its two-week run.