Chapter

In the latest chapter of a hotly contested environmental issue, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) unveiled the final version of an interim national strategy outlining the steps it will take to protect and restore the sage grouse habitat on America’s public lands.

In the latest chapter of a hotly contested environmental issue, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) unveiled the final version of an interim national strategy outlining the steps it will take to protect and restore the sage grouse habitat on America’s public lands.

Calling Enron Corp. a “sad chapter in energy history,” FERC Chairman Pat Wood last Thursday directed staff attorneys to immediately review the explosive new audiotapes and other documents related to Enron’s activities during the 2000-2001 energy crisis, as well as all Enron proceedings pending before the Commission, to determine what further steps the agency may need to take in pending cases.

Calling Enron Corp. a “sad chapter in energy history,” FERC Chairman Pat Wood on Thursday directed staff attorneys to immediately review the explosive new audiotapes and other documents related to Enron’s activities during the 2000-2001 energy crisis, as well as all Enron proceedings pending before the Commission, to determine what further steps the agency may need to take in pending cases.

On the eve of emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced last Wednesday it made 2003 local franchise fee and surcharge payments totaling $42 million in 49 California counties in which it operates. The payments, which were nearly equal for natural gas and electric facilities, represent a 22% increase over the combination utility’s 2002 payments. The fees are a percentage of gross receipts on the utility’s system that are paid to cities and counties for the “right to use public streets” in which to run gas and electric service pipes and wires, PG&E’s utility said in its announcement. The franchise fee surcharges are a percentage of the transportation and energy costs to customers choosing to buy their energy from third parties, or so-called “exit fees.”

On the eve of emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced Wednesday it made 2003 local franchise fee and surcharge payments totaling $42 million in 49 California counties in which it operates. The payments, which were nearly equal for natural gas and electric facilities, represent a 22% increase over the combination utility’s 2002 payments.

The federal bankruptcy judge in Enron Corp.’s Chapter 11 proceeding cleared the way Thursday for Sierra Pacific Resources’ two Nevada utilities to appeal an earlier judgment ordering them to pay more than $330 million in penalties for a busted power supply contract with Enron that was broken off last year. The judge stayed his previous decision ordering the utilities to pay Enron in lieu of them posting bonds and cash while they pursue appeals through federal regulators and the courts.

Chapter 11-mired Mirant and Pepco Holdings Inc. (PHI) last week said that they have reached a settlement agreement to restructure two power purchase agreements under review for potential rejection as part of Mirant’s bankruptcy case. Mirant’s challenge of another agreement under which the bankrupt generator buys power from Pepco remains in play.

FERC last week approved a plan by Xcel Energy to transfer all of the company’s interest in bankrupt NRG Energy to certain NRG creditors as part of a Chapter 11-related reorganization plan.