Chairman

Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) released a letter this week fromFERC Chairman James J. Hoecker that is “sharply critical” ofelectric restructuring bill H.R. 2944, sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton(R-TX). The bill was reported out of the House Energy and PowerSubcommittee last November. Hoecker’s letter was a response to aNov. 3 inquiry by Markey.

John W. Rowe, Chairman, President and CEO of Unicom, announcedthe appointment of Elizabeth Anne (“Betsy”) Moler, 50, as thecompany’s senior vice president for federal government affairs.Moler, currently an attorney in private practice in Washington,D.C. is a former chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(“FERC”). Upon completion of Unicom’s merger with PECO Energy, shewill head the combined company’s Washington office.

John W. Rowe, Chairman, President and CEO of Unicom, announcedthe appointment of Elizabeth Anne (“Betsy”) Moler, 50, as thecompany’s senior vice president for federal government affairs.Moler, currently an attorney in private practice in Washington,D.C. is a former chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(“FERC”). Upon completion of Unicom’s merger with PECO Energy, shewill head the combined company’s Washington office.

FERC Chairman James Hoecker said yesterday the Commissionintends to proceed with a vote on the hotly contested MarketLinkexpansion next week despite New Jersey Gov. Christine ToddWhitman’s threat of a lawsuit if the project is approved.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chairman Bob Anthony stillbelieves his state’s ratepayers are getting the short end of thestick in a 10-year supply contract that Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG)originally made with now-bankrupt Dynamic Energy Resources. That1993 contract was divided and transferred to two other suppliersnow serving the utility under the original terms.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chairman Bob Anthony still isnot satisfied that his state’s ratepayers are not getting the shortend of the stick in a 10-year supply contract between OklahomaNatural Gas (ONG) and Dynamic Energy Resources. In a press releaseissued earlier this week, Anthony charges under the contract ONG ispaying 50% more than it should be for some of its gas supply andpassing the cost on to consumers.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker announced last week that staffhas developed new timelines that could reduce the litigation timeby one-third for cases set for hearing before the Commission’sadministrative law judges (ALJ). The new timelines take effectimmediately, and apply to new cases and any pending cases thathaven’t had a procedural schedule set by a presiding judge.

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker announced yesterday that staffhas developed new timelines that could reduce the litigation timeby one-third for cases set for hearing before the Commission’sadministrative law judges (ALJ). The new timelines take effectimmediately, and apply to new cases and any pending cases thathaven’t had a procedural schedule set by a presiding judge.

Oneok Inc. CEO Larry Brummett and Oklahoma CorporationCommission (OCC) Chairman Bob Anthony sparred last week overwhether a 1993 gas purchase contract of Oneok subsidiary OklahomaNatural Gas (ONG) has been found to be fair to ratepayers. Asthings stood Friday, Anthony was all but calling for aninvestigation of the contract.