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California’s energy crisis has become more of an energy war, with public comments from all sides taking on distinctly adversarial tones. Gov. Gray Davis’ current strategy is to go after merchant generators in the news media and legislative forums. At the same time the governor has become the Democratic Party point person, attacking the Bush Administration on its energy policy as it relates to the western states and sky-high wholesale natural gas and electricity prices.

Judging from the comments expressed at yesterday’s Senateconfirmation hearing for Energy Secretary nominee Spencer Abraham,California isn’t likely to get much help from the Republicans inCongress for its ailing electricity market, but the Bush WhiteHouse could offer some hope.

Duke Energy Monday offered to manage San Diego Gas andElectric’s entire power supply in its comments to the FederalEnergy Regulatory Commission on proposals for solving California’snagging wholesale electricity problems. There are no negotiationsongoing, and SDG&E initially indicated it has not received anyformal offer from Duke.

Duke Energy Monday offered to manage San Diego Gas andElectric’s entire power supply in its comments to the FederalEnergy Regulatory Commission on proposals for solving California’snagging wholesale electricity problems. There are no negotiationsongoing, and SDG&E initially indicated it has not received anyformal offer from Duke.

Although industry comments on Order 637 still were tricklinginto FERC late Friday, it was clear that gas producers, both majorsand independents, and industrial customers had some of the biggestproblems with the final order by far, while the interstatepipelines and LDCs sought only minor tweaking of a “discrete” setof issues.

Although industry comments on Order 637 still were tricklinginto FERC late Friday, it was clear that gas producers, bothmajors and independents, and industrial customers had some of thebiggest problems with the final order by far, while the interstatepipelines and LDCs sought minor tweaking of a “discrete” set ofissues.

While the FERC cooks up a rulemaking that could lead to anauction system for short-term capacity, Commissioner Curt Hebert isinviting more chefs into the kitchen. “My feeling is there is nosecret to the recipe as long as it tastes the same in the end. Andif you have another recipe, I’d enjoy hearing about it,” Heberttold attendees at Gas Daily’s conference titled “Building BetterGas Transportation” Wednesday in Houston. “