Pipelines and LDCs have urged FERC to take an”if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it” approach to its Order 497regulations that are designed to keep interstate pipes fromfavoring their affiliates, but gas producers believe changes arelong overdue.
Debate
Articles from Debate
Suit Charges Generators With Price Fixing
Joining in the feeding frenzy that has become California’selectricity rate debate, a San Diego-based utility consumer groupand four law firms last week filed a class action lawsuit against13 major generators, marketers and energy trading companies,charging them with price fixing and market manipulation.
Pipe Safety Debate Comes Down to Wire
Calling the deadly explosions on the El Paso Natural Gas andOlympic Pipe Line systems the “most visible indications of aserious, long-term problem,” Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN)introduced pipeline safety legislation last week in the House thathe says takes a tougher stance against natural gas and hazardousliquid pipelines than does the Senate measure passed last month.
Debate over Pipe Safety Heats Up in House
Calling the blasts on the El Paso Natural Gas and Olympic PipeLine systems the “most visible indications of a serious, long-termproblem,” Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN) introduced pipeline safetylegislation this week in the House that he says takes a tougherstance against natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines than theSenate measure passed last month.
House Subcommittee Hears CA Power Woes
A U.S. House Commerce Subcommittee set the stage Monday in SanDiego for a continuation of California’s “great electricitydebate,” and the actors all showed up to deliver their linespredictably from the often-conflicting perspectives of consumers,generators, state regulators, energy officials and federalregulators. With two San Diego-based members of the subcommitteeamong the Congressional lawmakers attending, all sides got in theirtwo-cents worth, and are expected to do the same today when theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission holds its hearing on San Diegoelectricity price spikes.
Great Debate: CA Power Firms Vs. Consumers
To borrow a little from Shakespeare, the Summer of 2000 in SanDiego has been the season of consumers’ extreme discontent.Consumers burn their bills in protest, others just are burning.State officials, led by Gov. Gray Davis, claim profit-hungrynon-utility power plant owners have taken advantage of severesupply shortages to gouge consumers. But what’s the real story?
Great Debate: CA Power Firms Vs. Consumers
To borrow a little from Shakespeare, the Summer of 2000 in SanDiego has been the season of consumers’ extreme discontent.Consumers burn their bills in protest, others just are burning.State officials, led by Gov. Gray Davis, claim profit-hungrynon-utility power plant owners have taken advantage of severesupply shortages to gouge consumers. But what’s the real story?
Senate, House Again Debate Electric Power Restructuring
The heat wave and attendant electric and gas price spikes ofearly May have lit a fire under federal legislators, who may haveto answer to consumers this summer and constituents this fall as towhy the nation’s partially deregulated power industry isn’tworking.
Inspection Program Elicits Debate
State regulators yesterday called on the Department ofTransportation (DOT) to put a hold on any proposed changes to aprogram that gives states authority to act as agents of the federalgovernment to conduct safety inspections of interstate pipelines intheir respective states.
2000 Swing Market Begins on Slightly Softer Note
Disregarding debate over whether the new millennium has alreadybegun or won’t arrive until nearly a year from now, gas tradersgreeted the year 2000 by sending spot prices moderately lower. Itwas hardly surprising that the January aftermarket would open on adownward trend, a Texas marketer said. “We’ve been wondering whythis market has remained up as much it did. Everything seemsbearish.”