Considers

FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker was eager to give thanks lastweek after recently being renominated for a fresh term by PresidentClinton, but Commissioner Vicky Bailey seems burned out and readyto plan her departure.

While FERC Chairman James J. Hoecker said he’s honored by beingrenominated to the Commission by President Clinton earlier thismonth, Commissioner Vicky Bailey may be contemplating a jobelsewhere.

In an effort to deal with the serious decontracting problem onits pipeline system caused by the addition of Northern Border’sChicago expansion and the Alliance Pipeline project, TransCanadasaid last week it is strongly considering filing an applicationwith the National Energy Board this month to increase itsinterruptible and short-term firm transportation rates, somethingthe pipeline’s shippers almost certainly will oppose.

In an effort to deal with the serious decontracting problem onits pipeline system caused by the addition of Northern Border’sChicago expansion and the Alliance Pipeline project, TransCanadasaid last week it is strongly considering filing an applicationwith the National Energy Board this month to raise the floor pricefor interruptible and short-term firm transportation service,something the pipeline’s shippers almost certainly will oppose.

Cinergy Corp. CEO James Rogers told analysts recently the company may exit the power supply business altogether, including nonregulated trading and marketing, and regulated sales, as a result of the huge losses suffered in the power market in July (see NGI, Aug. 9). Cinergy’s board intends to make a decision on the matter this fall. The company also plans to consider spinning off its generation business into a separate subsidiary.

Cinergy Corp. CEO James Rogers told analysts this week the companymay exit the power supply business altogether, including nonregulatedtrading and marketing, and regulated sales, as a result of the hugelosses suffered in the power market in July (see Daily GPI Aug. 9, Aug. 11). Cinergy’s board intends to make adecision on the matter this fall. The company also plans to considerspinning off its generation business into a separate subsidiary.

A decision on the remanded Sea Robin Pipeline case anddiscussion of policy changes in the way the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission regulates offshore pipelines both are on theagenda for Wednesday’s open meeting, but no one will be surprisedif they’re a no-show once again.

As possibly the first step toward the formation of a multi-statewestern U.S. electricity transmission grid operator, the CaliforniaIndependent System Operator’s governing board has authorized theISO management to discuss with Nevada regulatory staff a deal underwhich the California nonprofit grid operator would expand itsoperations to handle Nevada. Public Utilities Commission staff inNevada raised the issue last month as an option for the state as itanticipates a new law that will open Nevada power markets nextspring.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is considering callingon government and industry resources to help make its ownassessment of the future demand outlook for natural gas in theeastern half of the United States and the need for new pipelinecapacity, Chairman James Hoecker said last week.