Columbia

In a clear rebuke to FERC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday ruled the Commission went too far in an order that restricted certain rights of electric utilities involved in an independent system operator (ISO), and violated the Mobile Sierra doctrine in unilaterally requiring reformation of pre-existing wholesale power contracts.

In its first report comparing the full effects of its merger with Columbia Energy Group, NiSource Inc. reported a 33% increase in first quarter net income to $242.2 million, or $1.18 per share, led by a favorable hedging program in its gas production and merchant division, reduced debt and reduced expenses that offset the negative impacts of very warm weather.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday upheld much of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s mammoth and hotly contested Order 637, which removed prices caps in the short-term capacity release market on a two-year experimental basis.

In a split decision for natural gas producers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has upheld the federal government’s right to include downstream marketing costs when computing royalties owed by individual producers. But, it said producers’ firm transportation demand charges for unused capacity were not subject to the same royalty consideration.

In what appears to be a split decision for natural gas producers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has upheld the federal government’s right to include downstream marketing costs when computing royalties owed by individual producers. But, it said producers’ firm transportation demand charges for unused capacity were not subject to the same royalty consideration.

Columbia Gas told storage customers Friday that it will raise the Maximum Monthly Withdrawal Quantity (MMWQ) for February from 30% to 40% of the Storage Contract Quantity (SCQ).

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has enjoined the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from enforcing its open-ended reporting requirement on natural gas pipelines operating offshore, ruling that the agency far exceeded its authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) when it took this action nearly two years ago.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood has named Edward M. Meyers, commissioner with the District of Columbia Public Service Commission, to head up the federal agency’s new Division of State Relations that will work closely with states on critical electric and natural gas issues.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood has named Edward M. Meyers, commissioner with the District of Columbia Public Service Commission, to head up the federal agency’s new Division of State Relations that will work closely with states on critical electric and natural gas issues.