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Former Pennsylvania regulator Nora Mead Brownell was sworn in as a FERC commissioner last Tuesday, filling out the ranks of the five-member federal agency. Brownell attended Wednesday’s regular open FERC meeting, but did not vote.

Former Pennsylvania regulator Nora Mead Brownell was sworn in as a FERC commissioner yesterday, filling out the ranks of the five-member federal agency. Brownell will be attending today’s regular open FERC meeting, although she has said she will not be voting.

FERC yesterday did a complete about-face and set for hearing the allegations that El Paso Natural Gas rigged the bidding process for transportation capacity on its system to favor its merchant-power generation facilities. The decision was a major win for California parties and a disappointing setback for El Paso pipeline and its affiliates.

Vancouver-based Westcoast Energy Inc. reported last week that its recent open season on its Southern Mainline was a complete success. In addition to fully subscribing the 200 MMcf/d open season for additional transportation capacity on its Southern Mainline, the company announced that it awarded 50 MMcf/d of additional transportation capacity on its Westcoast Alberta line.

The complete lack of demand and flood of supply on the market last week left many considering a return to historical price levels, particularly in the Rockies on Friday where prices dropped to near $1. The $5-$6 dollar crash in prices at the Southern California border into SoCalGas last week including a $2 tumble on Friday and the recent declines in western power prices were enough to prompt California Governor Gray Davis to declare the “war” on energy prices officially “won.”

The complete lack of demand and flood of supply on the market late last week left many considering the possibility of a return to historical price levels, particularly in the Rockies where prices Friday dropped to near $1. The $5-$6 dollar crash in prices at the Southern California border into SoCalGas and the recent declines in western power prices were enough to prompt California Governor Gray Davis to declare the “war” on energy prices officially “won.”

Vancouver-based Westcoast Energy Inc. reported Monday that its recent open season on its Southern Mainline was a complete success. In addition to fully subscribing the 200 MMcf/d open season for additional transportation capacity on its Southern Mainline, the company announced that it awarded 50 MMcf/d of additional transportation capacity on its Westcoast Alberta line.

Positioning itself to become a major regional energy player, DTE Energy last Thursday announced the closing of its approximately $3.9 billion merger with MCN Energy Group. The completion of the merger finishes a process that kicked off in October 1999 (see NGI, October 11, 1999).

Positioning itself to become a major regional energy player, DTE Energy yesterday announced the closing of its approximately $3.9 billion merger with MCN Energy Group. The completion of the merger finishes a process that kicked off in October 1999 (see Daily GPI, October 6, 1999).