As the moratorium on utility service terminations for low-income customers came to an end, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) vowed that its customers can expect additional assistance from the utility to keep their service on. The Maryland Public Service Commission’s winter service protection was lifted on March 31, BGE said it will continue to work with customers after the deadline “We know the end of the moratorium might cause more concern for our customers already in a difficult situation,” says Frank O. Heintz, president of BGE. “We want these customers to know we will remain flexible in helping them find the best solution for their circumstances.” Customers having trouble handling their winter utility bill should call BGE at 410-685-0123.
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Articles from Came
Lehman Brothers, SSB Say Storage is Fine, Others Show Concern
As the traditional storage withdrawal season came to an end last week with working gas near record lows at 627 Bcf (19% full) and 404 Bcf lower than the same time last year, there were mixed opinions on Wall Street about what the 2001 refill season might hold. Lehman Brothers and Salomon Smith Barney warned that storage might be refilled at a record rate this year, possibly prompting a bearish reaction in the market in the short-term despite the extremely low level of working gas currently. Meanwhile, UBS Warburg and IFR Pegasus said that scenario was very unlikely.
OH, KS, IA Review High Heating Bills, Disconnects for Nonpayment
As the moratorium on electric and natural gas heating disconnections in Ohio came to an end last Monday in Ohio, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) enacted a last minute order stating that regulated utility companies need to follow specific steps before disconnecting consumers for non-payment of a winter heating bill.
PUCO Enacts Utility Disconnection Rules
As the moratorium on electric and natural gas heatingdisconnections in Ohio came to an end on Monday, the PublicUtilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) enacted a last minute orderstating that regulated utility companies need to follow specificsteps before disconnecting consumers for non-payment of a winterheating bill.
States Want to See Quicker, More Forceful FERC
FERC came under heavy attack on Capitol Hill last week from state energy officials for dragging its heels in issuing decisions, not aggressively monitoring bulk power markets for abuses, and for not checking more thoroughly to see whether competition was present in electric markets before it removed price regulation.
States Want to See Quicker, More Forceful FERC
FERC came under heavy attack on Capitol Hill yesterday fromstate energy officials for dragging its heels in issuing decisions,not aggressively monitoring bulk power markets for abuses, and fornot checking more thoroughly to see whether competition was presentin markets before it removed price regulation.
Anadarko Follows Koch’s Suit, Settles Antitrust
An antitrust suit against Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and itsacquired subsidiary Union Pacific Resources (UPR) came to a closewithout a verdict less than one week after it had begun. Anadarkosettled out of court with American Central Gas Technologies Co.’s,a spokeswoman for Anadarko said. Terms of the agreement were notdisclosed.
Gulf South’s Open-Tap Policy Protested
The proposed open-tap policy of Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP,formerly Koch Gateway Pipeline, came under fire last week from anumber of shippers that claimed it violated FERC’s policy withrespect to interconnections.
Bears Prevail for Third Monday in a Row
For the third week in a row, natural gas futures came underheavy selling pressure in the Sunday evening/Monday morningovernight Access trading session, initiating a gap lower open whenregular open-outcry trading resumed Monday at 9:30 a.m. (ET). As itturned out, that was about all the excitement the market couldhandle for one day because prices remained almost unchanged,slipping only 2.9 cents through the session as traders elected toremain mostly on the sidelines. Although the change throughout theday was small, the damage done overnight was significant, demotingthe March contract to $5.821, 38.9 cents beneath Friday’s close.
Guardian Receives Final EIS for the Holidays
It appears the Guardian Pipeline project received what it wantedfor the holidays afterall, even though it came a week or two late.The pipeline announced yesterday that it has cleared one of thelarger regulatory hurdles, as the Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission (FERC) Staff issued a Final Environmental ImpactStatement (EIS) on the project, deeming the construction andoperation of the 149-mile natural gas pipeline from Joliet, IL, toIxonia, WI, as an acceptable environmental action.
