Closely

Consumer groups, businesses and state lawmakers are all watching closely how California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the next few weeks handles the upcoming two vacancies on the five-member California Public Utilities Commission. Indications are his administration’s appointments secretary will be getting a steady stream of candidates from all sectors of the state.

In a move sure to be closely scrutinized by opposing state and federal regulators squabbling over jurisdiction, Houston-based ConocoPhillips and Mitsubishi’s Sound Energy Solutions (SES) announced late Monday that they signed a memorandum of understanding to work jointly on SES’s proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in the Port of Long Beach, CA.

Continuing to follow Nicor Gas and a subsidiary’s actions very closely, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said late last week that Nicor Solutions is using “deceptive marketing” to pitch a pilot program that charges consumers $107 a year to protect against high natural gas prices — a plan the board contends never would have saved Nicor’s customers any money in the history of the gas market.

Continuing to follow Nicor Gas and a subsidiary’s actions very closely, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Thursday that Nicor Solutions is using “deceptive marketing” to pitch a pilot program that charges consumers $107 a year to protect against high natural gas prices — a plan the board contends never would have saved Nicor’s customers any money in the history of the gas market.

Following closely on the heels of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s pro-LNG testimony before a House panel, Cheniere Energy Inc. said that it has closed the formation of its partnership with BPU LNG, an affiliate of Sherwin Alumina, to build an LNG receiving facility on a site adjacent to the Sherwin Alumina plant in Corpus Christi, TX. The partnership was first announced in mid-May (see NGI, May 19).

Following closely on the heels of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s pro-LNG testimony before a House panel, Cheniere Energy Inc. said Friday that it has closed the formation of its partnership with BPU LNG, an affiliate of Sherwin Alumina, to build an LNG receiving facility on a site adjacent to the Sherwin Alumina plant in Corpus Christi, TX. The partnership was first announced in mid-May (see Daily GPI, May 16).

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) ability to closely regulate the securities and financial markets has become “increasingly strained” due to its restricted funding, limited staff and high turnover of senior staff, according to a report released by General Accounting Office (GAO) last week.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) ability to closely regulate the securities and financial markets has become “increasingly strained” due to its restricted funding, limited staff and high turnover of senior staff, according to a just-released report of the General Accounting Office (GAO).

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revealed last Thursday that it has set up a mechanism so its staff can closely monitor operational flow order (OFO) activity on interstate natural gas pipelines to determine whether abuses may be occurring against pipeline shippers.