Consumer

Responding to a request from The Utility Reform Network (TURN), a utility consumer advocate, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) earlier this month kicked off an investigation of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s billing and collection practices that could ultimately result in refunds or fines for the utility. The five-member CPUC ordered the probe at its last business meeting.

Responding to a request from The Utility Reform Network (TURN), a utility consumer advocate, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) earlier this month kicked off an investigation of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s billing and collection practices that could ultimately result in refunds or fines for the utility. The five-member CPUC ordered the probe at its last business meeting.

A consumer advocacy group and environmental organization last Monday urged FERC to deny a request by Dominion Cove Point LNG to exempt a 800 MMcf/d sendout capacity expansion of the company’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in eastern Maryland from the agency’s open-season and cost-of-service regulations.

A consumer advocacy group and environmental organization on Monday urged FERC to deny a request by Dominion Cove Point LNG to exempt a 800 MMcf/d sendout capacity expansion of the company’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in eastern Maryland from the agency’s open-season and cost-of-service regulations.

Federal antitrust clearance and an agreement between PNM Resources, the staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and some consumer groups moves PNM’s proposed $1 billion purchase of Fort Worth-based TNP Enterprises (TNP) and its subsidiaries, Texas-New Mexico Power Co. (TNMP) and First Choice Power, two steps closer to reality.

Federal antitrust clearance and an agreement between PNM Resources, the staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and some consumer groups moves PNM’s proposed $1 billion purchase of Fort Worth-based TNP Enterprises (TNP) and its subsidiaries, Texas-New Mexico Power Co. (TNMP) and First Choice Power, two steps closer to reality.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an impassioned statement declaring “another victory” with the proposed settlement for up to $750 million with Chapter 11 bankruptcy-immersed Mirant Corp. The governor promised that any net paybacks from this and other earlier settlements will be used to lower electric rates for private-sector utility customers.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an impassioned statement declaring “another victory” with the proposed settlement for up to $750 million with Chapter 11 bankruptcy-immersed Mirant Corp., which was announced last Friday (see Daily GPI, Jan. 18). The governor promised that any net paybacks from this and other earlier settlements will be used to lower electric rates for private-sector utility customers.

An industrial consumer group said Monday that it was “alarmed and dismayed” to learn that the Bush administration’s fiscal year 2006 budget plan calls for cuts in funding for programs overseeing minerals management leasing and permitting.