Bulk

California’s closely watched entry into the long-term, bulkpower market turned up 39 bidders at an average 6.9 cents/kWhprice, the governor’s office reported late Wednesday, as the stategovernment finished its whirlwind 27-hour, sealed-bid powerauction.

California Gov. Gray Davis on Friday signed a short-term measure(AB 7X) to allow the state to get into the bulk power spotpurchasing business immediately. He also ordered the state waterresources department to begin setting up a power auction processanticipating it will be authorized by another new state law thatwill be finalized this week to seek long-term electricitycontracts. Observers and market participants, however, say themeasures probably are inadequate to solve the state’s currentsupply crisis.

FERC has given Southern California Edison until noon today (PST)to pay the California Power Exchange (Cal-PX) for its bulkelectricity purchases, which is the deadline by which the Cal-PXmust pay its creditors.

Puget Sound Energy Inc. has called on FERC to levy price caps inthe Pacific Northwest bulk electricity markets that are equal towhat it ultimately decides to establish for the Californiawholesale market. Last week, the Commission proposed a “soft”$150/MWh price cap on wholesale sales of electricity in California.

The FERC majority’s ruling rejecting Morgan Stanley CapitalGroup Inc.’s efforts to participate in bidding in the New York bulkpower market “coddles” the New York Independent System Operator(NYISO), Commissioner Curt Hebert Jr. said last week.

FERC last week reaffirmed the bulk of Order 639 in which it isattempting to bring about some consistency to the regulation ofnatural gas pipelines on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) byimposing similar reporting burdens on all facilities. It also madea few nips and tucks in the OCS order, especially with respect thefiling date for the reports and and the types of shippers that areexempted.

FERC last week reaffirmed the bulk of Order 639 in which it isattempting to bring about some consistency to the regulation ofnatural gas pipelines on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) byimposing similar reporting burdens on all facilities. It also madea few nips and tucks in the OCS order, especially with respect thefiling date for the reports and and the types of shippers that areexempted.

FERC last week conditionally approved a significant re-design ofthe New England bulk power market in an attempt to reduce the pricevolatility stemming from congestion of the region’s transmissionsystem. But it could be as long as two years before the regionalmarket feels the benefits of the changes.

FERC yesterday conditionally approved a significant re-design ofthe New England bulk electricity market in an attempt to reduce theprice volatility stemming from generation shortages and congestedtransmission systems. But it could be as much as two years beforethe regional market feels the effects of the changes.