Comment

Backing off from a statement he made in June that the oil and gas industry should be fined unless they used more local companies in offshore multi-billion projects, Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm said this week that he would only agree to a system of fines if the energy industry ended its usual practice of giving contracts to local companies. Speaking at a natural gas conference in Halifax, Hamm said he wanted to instead focus on the positive aspects of the industry.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) last week issued for comment staff-proposed new rules for competitive retail natural gas service and providers of the service. As a result of amended Ohio Substitute House Bill 9, which was signed into law by Gov. Bob Taft in March, the commission’s authority over gas providers in the state has been significantly expanded (see NGI, May 21).

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) issued for comment on Tuesday staff-proposed rules for competitive retail natural gas service and for providers of the service. In accordance with amended Ohio Substitute House Bill 9, which was signed by Gov. Bob Taft in March, the commission has been given new ruling power over natural gas providers in the state (see Daily GPI, May 17).

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a proposal for public comment that would, among other things, eliminate the pooling of interests method of accounting for business combinations. The move is directed at enhancing economic accountability and could act as a curb on questionable transactions. As part of its public consideration of the issues, the Board also will hold hearings on the subject early next year in New York and San Francisco. Comments on the proposal are requested by Dec. 7.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued aproposal for public comment that would, among other things,eliminate the pooling of interests method of accounting forbusiness combinations. As part of its public consideration of theissues, the Board also will hold hearings on the subject early nextyear in New York and San Francisco. Comments on the proposal arerequested by Dec. 7.

Industrial gas users want to “comment” on the revised and newGas Industry Standards Board’s (GISB) standards that FERC proposedfor adoption in December, but there’s only one problem – they don’tknow what they are. The Commission apparently doesn’t have a copyof the proposed changes on file, they said, and to get them fromthe standards-setting organization could cost the tidy sum of$3,500.

Industrial gas users want to “comment” on the revised and newGas Industry Standards Board’s (GISB) standards that FERC proposedfor adoption in December, but there’s only one problem – they don’tknow what they are. The Commission apparently doesn’t have a copyof the proposed changes on file, they said, and to get them fromthe standards-setting organization could cost up to $3,500.