Denies

Stating that it was “inappropriate at this time to implement procedures that would unduly interfere with the normal operation of the natural gas market,” the National Energy Board (NEB) said late last week that it has denied the Province of New Brunswick’s application that would have put local interests first in line for offshore Nova Scotia supplies, potentially jeopardizing millions of dollars in investments for supply development and transportation. While it found no evidence of companies favoring U.S. export markets and discriminating against Canadian buyers, the NEB said it would organize a monitoring team and gather price and supply data.

In denying a natural gas producer’s plea for FERC to reassert jurisdiction over a network of gathering facilities in the Appalachian region, the Commission ruled last week the Virginia-based company failed to show that Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. and its gathering affiliate, Columbia Natural Resources Inc. (CNR), had acted “in concert” to manipulate gathering rates and thwart competitive transportation service.

Stating that it was “inappropriate at this time to implement procedures that would unduly interfere with the normal operation of the natural gas market,” the National Energy Board (NEB) said Thursday that it has denied the Province of New Brunswick’s application that would have put local interests first in line for offshore Nova Scotia supplies, potentially jeopardizing millions of dollars in investments for supply development and transportation. While it found no evidence of companies favoring U.S. export markets and discriminating against Canadian buyers, the NEB said it would organize a monitoring team and gather price and supply data.

In denying a natural gas producer’s plea for FERC to reassert jurisdiction over a network of gathering facilities in the Appalachian region, the Commission ruled the Virginia-based company failed to show that Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. and its gathering affiliate, Columbia Natural Resources Inc. (CNR), had acted “in concert” to manipulate gathering rates and thwart competitive transportation service.

FERC issued an order last week denying allegations that FERC Chairman Pat Wood and Commissioner Nora M. Brownell during a March conference call gave Wall Street analysts the heads up on how they intended to vote in pending cases involving manipulation of western energy markets. An agency spokesman defended the two as well.

A FERC spokesman has denied allegations that FERC Chairman Pat Wood and Commissioner Nora M. Brownell during a conference call gave Wall Street analysts the heads up on how they intended to vote in pending cases involving manipulation of western energy markets. The agency quickly followed that up with an order Wednesday defending the two.

With its subsidiary NRG on the financial ropes and near bankruptcy, Xcel Energy on Friday announced plans to sell the Viking Gas Transmission pipeline and a one-third interest in the Guardian Pipeline project to Northern Border Partners LP for $152 million including associated debt. Northern Border Partners is expected to purchase all of the common stock of Viking by the end of December, subject to regulatory approvals.

With its subsidiary NRG on the financial ropes and near bankruptcy, Xcel Energy on Friday announced plans to sell the Viking Gas Transmission pipeline and a one-third interest in the Guardian Pipeline project to Northern Border Partners LP for $152 million including associated debt. Northern Border Partners is expected to purchase all of the common stock of Viking by the end of December, subject to regulatory approvals.

There is no evidence that Nicor Inc. affiliate Nicor Gas committed criminal fraud in carrying out its performance-based rate (PBR) program for Illinois gas customers, but the local distribution company (LDC) did overcharge its customers by an estimated $15 million over the past couple of years, according to the results of an independent report commissioned by a special committee that was named by the company’s board of directors.