Competition

Producing state Kansas is sticking its toes in the water ofretail gas competition with a notice of inquiry (NOI) from theKansas Corporation Commission (KCC), “the goal of which is toexplore whether extending restructuring to all retail consumers isin the public interest. We also wish to explore other regulatoryalternatives which may bring benefits to smaller retail gasconsumers.”

Despite the increasing pressure of retail competition, thefuture is bright for gas utilities, American Gas AssociationChairman Dick Terry told investors last week. Terry, who also isCEO of Chicago-based Peoples Energy, told the New York Society ofSecurity Analysts he’s optimistic that federal and state regulatorsare headed in the right direction.

Nova Scotia regulators kicked off competition for gasdistribution rights in the province last week, and so far fourplayers have come forward with plans to deliver the first SableIsland gas production to come ashore next fall. A Sempra Energysubsidiary; Scotia Advantage, a partnership of Consumers Gas andNova Scotia Power; Sask Energy; and Maritimes NRG all plan tosubmit proposals to distribute gas in the province.

A survey conducted by Promark Research Corp. between Aug. 23-25,with subsequent data analysis by Baselice & Associatesdetermined that 95% of Pennsylvanians are aware that they can orwill soon be able to choose their electric generation supplier.It’s a huge improvement for the Pennsylvania program when comparedwith a June survey that showed awareness 15 percentage pointslower. Nationwide awareness of electric restructuring is about 40%,according to another survey by Yankee Energy.

Seeking a generic response to the restraints on competitionposed by pipelines’ bundling of production area costs into marketarea rates, FERC has asked parties in cases involving threepipelines delivering to the East Coast to respond to itstransportation rulemaking.

Seeking a generic response to the restraints on competitionposed by pipelines’ bundling of production area costs into marketarea rates, FERC has asked parties in cases involving threepipelines delivering to the East Coast to respond to itstransportation rulemaking.

Southern California has become the latest hot spot for gaspipeline competition. Following the successful $50,000 bid twoweeks ago for Southern California Gas’ option to purchase (in 2012)the California portion of the Kern River Pipeline, Williams wastedno time in drawing up plans for Kern River’s first major extensionproject since going into operation in 1992.

FERC last week put off a final ruling on the troubled merger ofAllegheny Energy and DQE Inc., parent of Duquesne Light, until thepartners decide how they want to resolve some serious competitiveconcerns. The Commission gave them the option of divesting DQE’s570-MW Cheswick Generating Station or proceeding to hearing ontheir own mitigation measures, which include relinquishing controlof the Cheswick output on a short-term basis and joining theMidwest independent system operator (ISO).

Spurred by deregulation and the changing role of localdistribution companies, KeySpan Energy, parent of Brooklyn UnionGas, and Enron Capital & Trade Resources (ECT) made an allianceto market gas supply management services to LDCs throughout theNortheast.