Atlanta Gas Light Services has vowed to fight a decision by aGeorgia Public Service Commission hearing officer that wouldprohibit the company from using the name of its utility affiliate,Atlanta Gas Light. The marketing affiliate filed an appeal June 26,contending the initial decision, if upheld, would “reducecompetition in direct violation of the statutory purposes of the[Georgia] Natural Gas Act” when the deregulated market opens thisfall.
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FERC’s Gas Options Plan Elusive
As of last Friday, 35 days away from the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission’s August recess and counting….there wasstill no official sign of its promised plan to cure the gas marketof its ills. But rumors abounded that the alleged “gas options”paper has been circulated to pipelines and producers and isundergoing a variety of alterations. There also was one report thatthe plan might not, after all, see daylight until after the recess.
Puget Sound Gets Go-Ahead for Performance-Based Rates
Puget Sound Energy received approval from the WashingtonUtilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) to begin a newperformance-based mechanism for strengthening its gas-supplypurchases and gas-storage practices.
Ohio PUC Gives Choice to 1.8 Million
The Public Utility Commission of Ohio made it possible yesterdayfor 1.8 million retail gas customers in more than 64 Ohio countiesto begin choosing gas suppliers this winter. PUCO approved a hugeexpansion of Columbia Gas of Ohio’s pilot program and extended thepilots of Cincinnati Gas & Electric and East Ohio Gas.
KCBT to Add 18 Contract Months
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has approved a proposalby the Kansas City Board of trade to increase the number ofconsecutive Western Natural Gas contract months listed on theexchange to 36 from 18. The additional months will be listed fortrade beginning today.
OK Production Dips to 20-Year Low
Statistics recently released by the Oklahoma CorporationCommission (OCC) show gas production in the state last year reachedits lowest level since 1968. However, OCC Commissioner Bob Anthonysaid he sees no cause for alarm and expects little or no furthererosion in production this year forward.
Pennsylvania Senate OKs New PUC Commissioner
The Pennsylvania Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Chester, PAMayor Aaron Wilson Jr. to the state Public Utility Commissionreplacing Commissioner John Hanger and effectively ending thatstate’s leadership toward substantive electric and natural gasderegulation. Only a handful of senators opposed the nomination.
Minnegasco Offering Fixed-Price Plan
Minnegasco received approval from the Minnesota Public UtilitiesCommission (MPUC) for a fixed-rate pilot program scheduled to beginNov. 1 in Mankato and North Mankato, MN. The program offers about12,700 residential and 1,600 commercial customers the option ofbeing billed a fixed rate for gas for one year. If successful, theprogram could be expanded to other communities served byMinnegasco.
Maine PUC Approves Bangor Gas Project
The battle over the next gas distribution frontier is continuingin Maine with the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) grantingBangor Gas Co. unconditional authority to provide gas distributionservice to five municipalities in the greater Bangor area. BangorGas, a joint venture of Bangor Hydro and Energy Pacific, iscompeting for market share in the area with CMP Natural Gas, ajoint venture of Central Maine Power and New York State Electric& Gas. Both projects are intended to provide new gas serviceonce Maritimes and Northeast comes on line in November 1999.
Michigan PSC Approves MichCon Choice Program
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) quickly approved aproposal by MichCon to implement a three-year plan to offer its 1.2million residential and commercial gas customers the opportunity toselect alternative natural gas suppliers. The plan also cuts andfreezes gas costs for customers who stay with MichCon as their gasprovider.