Comply

The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) is proposing changes to its regulations governing royalty relief for deepwater leases to comply with a 2004 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has called on the Interior Department to comply with an Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) directive that requires the agency to fund a study of the effects of coalbed methane production on ground and surface water resources.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has called on the Interior Department to comply with an Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) directive that requires the agency to fund a study of the effects of coalbed methane production on ground and surface water resources.

TGT issued an OFO that took effect Saturday and directs no-notice and storage customers “to comply with the 68% minimum seasonal storage withdrawal obligations in their service agreements.” The OFO will remain in place until April 1, TGT said. See the bulletin board for further details.

Sempra Energy said last week that it will comply with a California Superior Court judge’s ruling in San Diego that it, along with more than two dozen other energy suppliers, turn over 100 hours of recordings of natural gas trading operations during the state’s 2000-2001 energy crisis.

Sempra Energy indicated Tuesday it will comply with a California Superior Court Judge’s ruling in San Diego that the energy holding company and more than two dozen other energy suppliers turn over 100 hours of tape recordings of natural gas trading operations during the state’s 2000-2001 energy crisis that has spawned numerous lawsuits. The case brought by California municipalities and other large gas users is one of many consolidated under Judge Ronald Prager.

FERC in separate orders Tuesday directed Columbia Gulf Transmission and Tennessee Gas Pipeline to submit revised tariff filings that comply with the agency’s new policy statement on natural gas quality issues that was issued in June. The orders also called for technical conferences to be held to discuss the proposed changes.

San Diego Gas and Electric Co. has expanded the number of customers potentially eligible for its low-income energy-saving programs to comply with changes in state income guidelines. The Sempra Energy utility calls its expanded program the “Energy Team” program, featuring various home energy-savings-improvement services. Energy Team offers income-qualified renters and homeowners no-cost services that include: door weather-stripping and caulking; ceiling insulation; low-flow showerheads; and energy-efficient refrigerators, along with other minor home repairs that can reduce energy use. Last year, more than 11,000 qualified customers received a variety of home-weatherization services, SDG&E said. New income guidelines established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) were effective last June 1, permitting household incomes of $28,000 for one- and two-person households, up to a maximum of $54,300 annual incomes for households of six or more. For each household member above the six, another $6,900 of income can be added. The income levels were adjusted by the CPUC, effective June 1, to reflect changes in the federal poverty guidelines.

FERC on Thursday took steps to spur and expedite repairs and the construction of new interstate natural gas pipelines in an effort to bolster deliveries of gas supplies this winter from the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast region.