Comprehensive

A comprehensive report on gas unbundling released by the U.S.General Accounting Office found that as of July 31 of this yearonly about 3.9% of the of the residential gas customers eligible tobuy gas from suppliers other than their regulated gas utility weredoing so. Roughly 553,000 residential gas users behind thecitygates of 43 gas utilities in 16 states were participating incustomer choice programs. Commercial participation levels were notavailable. The report, titled Energy Deregulation: Status ofNatural Gas Customer Choice Programs, was requested by Sens. JeffBingaman (D-NM) and Dale L. Bumpers (D-AK).

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) last weekapproved a comprehensive agreement with the regulated arm of NewJersey Resources (NJR), New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), that wouldput it on a fast-track to provide supplier choice to itsresidential customers by Jan. 1.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) earlier this weekapproved a comprehensive agreement with New Jersey Resources (NJR),parent of New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), that would put it on afast-track to provide supplier choice to its residential customersby Jan. 1.

Producers and marketers this week offered their conditionalsupport for a comprehensive settlement package that calls forNatural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) to implement a moretransparent auction process on its system. Several said theirsupport hinged on the outcome of five contested issues that havebeen reserved for FERC comment and resolution.

As part of a comprehensive settlement filed at FERC Natural GasPipeline Company of America (NGPL) has proposed implementing aninteractive auction process for posting and awardingtransportation/storage capacity on its system within less than twoyears. Although the settlement reserves five contested issues, allof the “active” parties have indicated their support for theproposal.

The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) isexpected to file a comprehensive plan today asking FERC to exertlighter handed regulation over all pipeline facilities in the Gulfof Mexico.