Competition

Houston-based Dynegy Inc., setting itself up as likely competition for current online trading king EnronOnline, has launched Dynegydirect, its own B2B trading site for energy and communications commodities. The new system will give its customers self-service access to bid and offer prices across U.S. power, natural gas and natural gas liquids products.

Houston-based Dynegy Inc., setting itself up as possiblecompetition for its cross-town Houston marketer Enron, has launchedDynegydirect, a B2B trading site for energy and communicationscommodities, which will give customers self-service access to bidand offer prices across U.S. power, natural gas and natural gasliquids products. CEO Chuck Watson said the site would extend thecompany’s “global reach through customized electronic solutions.”

When the retail market partially opens to competition in Texasnext June, it will be a “whole new ballgame,” according to anofficial with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, but moregeneration, additional transmission lines and increased capacityshould guarantee the state faces no problems similar to those seenby California this year.

Shell Trading unveiled its mega-energy electronic tradingplatform in London this week, offering the first heavy dutycompetition for Enron Corp.’s industry-leading EnronOnline.

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) saidthere will be a third mark-up session on electric competitionlegislation on June 7. About 30 amendments have been submitted formark-up so far. “We will have staff work to pare down the number ofamendments, and I will meet personally with Sen. [Jeff] Bingamanand staff to come to grips with the concerns.” Bingaman (D-NM) isranking minority member of the committee. Murkowski cited theextent of federal jurisdiction vs. state jurisdiction as the maindifference among committee members. “Secondary issues are thingslike benefit funds, renewable mandates and nucleardecommissioning…..” He urged committee members to come to termswith the idea of a comprehensive electric bill, adding “I’m notgoing to be the one who kills a comprehensive bill.”

While electric restructuring at the federal level meandersalong, a broad group of industry and consumer organizationsreleased a list last week of 23 principles it believes should beincluded. The group is hoping its efforts might add some urgency tothe legislative process.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has denied ANRPipeline’s petition for review of a FERC ruling that permittedNautilus Pipeline to build a competing pipeline off the coast ofLouisiana.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last week deniedANR Pipeline’s petition for review of a FERC ruling that permittedNautilus Pipeline to build a competing pipeline off the coast ofLouisiana.

In accordance with Ohio’s electric industry competitionlegislation, Cinergy’s Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co. (CG&E)filed its transition plan with the Public Utilities Commission ofOhio (PUCO) yesterday. The plan extends a six-year rate freeze foranother six years, but also requests that the utility recover itsstranded costs through the frozen rates. Overall, the utility,which serves 650,000 electric customers in southwestern Ohio, saidthe plan would cause a $77 million reduction on residentialcustomers’ bills. The new law requires PUCO to rule on the plan byOctober 31.